Liquor ban disappoints cricket lovers in city

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 3

The ongoing liquor ban has disappointed cricket fans this time as no hotelier in the city is screening the India -Pakistan match on the big screen tomorrow.

The city hoteliers always came up with attractive offers and organised screening of cricket matches on the big screen to cash in on the high intensity clash between India and Pakistan. But this time, the hotel sector is itself in a crisis.

Hotel Sepal, which always organised screening of India-Pakistan matches earlier, has not organised anything this time. Hotel owner Arish Katia said “We are not holding any special screening as we are showing our resentment against the liquor ban and Pakistan, which is sponsoring terrorism”.

Stella Hotel GM Harish Kumar said no particular screen had been installed but cricket lovers visiting the hotel can enjoy the match on LED screens installed at the restaurant with mocktails and snacks.

However, there are few places in the city which have not let the ban deter them. They have made special arrangements and cricket lovers can enjoy live match telecast with special drinks and snacks there.

Platters Bar has come up with an innovative menu, especially designed for cricket lovers. They have also installed two big screen for the screening of the match at their bar.

Bikram Gupta, owner of Platters Bar, said cricket lovers can enjoy their version of ‘Harbhajan’s doosra kebab’ along with ‘Lahori channa masala’ along with a ‘bowled over martini’.

La Comida hard bar is also screening the live telecast of the cricket match. Bar owner JS Gill said “We have started new veg and non-veg combos for the India-Pakistan cricket match which people can come and enjoy along with the match”.

Big screens have also been installed at the Dunes Club and Tulip Club for cricket lovers.