HYDERABAD, March 29: When it comes to obsession with cricket in the country, Hyderabad is no exception. Wednesday's semi-final has generated passion among people of all ages and walks of life.

Arrangements have been made throughout the city to savour the clash of titans. People are interested more in the Pakistan-India semi final than about who qualifies for the World Cup final following the Sri Lanka-New Zealand semi final.

Hyderabad is the only city in Sindh, apart from Karachi, which has an international cricket centre - Niaz Stadium - where Pakistan has an unbeaten record both in test and one-day cricket. The stadium has long been neglected by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) even though the ground was given to the PCB by the district government under an agreement to upgrade it. No work has started as yet.

Afzal Nagori is amazed to see the craze among people who are thronging his sports shop to buy the Pakistani team's green coloured shirt and full cricket kit.

He inherited the business - Ibrahim Sports - from his late father, but he doesn't remember people ever getting involved so deeply in a Pakistan-India match.

Maybe, he believes, it is media - which was not that powerful until recent past - that has stirred so much hype by previewing the game round the clock for the past one week.

“Perhaps we were not expecting that our team will qualify for the semi-final despite skipper Shahid Afridi's prediction that his charges will storm into the last four,” remarked Nagori. Buyers are ready to purchase their favourite cricket items at inflated prices.

“I haven't played cricket but I am buying a cricket kit as we plan to watch the match on a big screen,” said Zeeshan Ansari, a college student who had come to Afzal's shop to get a kit.

A quality national colour shirt, which was available at Rs750, is now being sold for Rs1,000. Lesser varieties range between Rs400 and Rs500. Sports items are mostly bought from Sialkot since that city is famed for its expertise in manufacturing sports goods.

“I have exhausted my current stock and booked some orders from sellers that I will be providing them shirts by tonight,” Nagori said. BIG SCREENS:

The newest fad this time is of watching cricket on the big screen.

“I am myself putting a 50 inch mega LCD (liquid crystal display) outside my shop with echo sound,” said Ghazi Salahuddin, a volunteer of Cantonment peace committee.

He wants to make the event enjoyable and memorable for everyone. “But we will make sure that it should remain purely a sporting event and no ill will is caused against any country,” Ghazi said.

He has taken an important initiative of keeping in touch with volunteers of different temples in Cantonment area to face eventuality. “Our committee has some non-Muslim volunteers,” he said.

The New Majestic cinema has decided to telecast the match live and is offering tickets in advance. “Rs100 will be charged for each ticket as I am investing around Rs50,000 for the event,” said a cricket lover Asif Khan, who works for a cellular company.

The SRTC area mobile phone market union, led by Shabbir Siddiqui, has also made arrangements for Wednesday's match. Their programme is being sponsored by a company that deals in cell phones.

A musical concert is in the pipeline if Pakistan win. “The main road to our market will remain closed as we are setting up a stage to put up a huge screen for shopkeepers and customers,” said Mr Siddiqui.

Availability of big screens might become a problem. LCDs are the second option in that case. SWEETS OF SUCCESS:

And if Pakistan beat India people will certainly throng sweetmeat shops to celebrate the event. Owners of most shops have doubled the volume of their orders for Wednesday.

“I have raised the quantity for tomorrow. My friends in the business

have done the same,” said Ahmed Ali, owner of a popular outlet in

the cantonment area.

Television mechanics are also having a good time. According to Afzal,

he was as busy as a bee on Tuesday as everyone was keen to get his faulty set in order for the big day.