Residents try out World Cup goodies at a shop in Patna. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, April 1: As Team India gets ready to meet Sri Lanka in the World Cup final, the people of Patna are arranging the ammunition — T-shirts, caps and waistbands.

T-shirts of the Indian and Sri Lankan teams, with colourful prints and designs, are doing the rounds. Featuring ICC World Cup logo, these are available in the price range of Rs 300 to Rs 400.

Moti Chhabra, the owner of a sports shop, said: “Cricket fever in Patna has been growing with each passing day of the ICC World Cup. Now, that India is in the final, the craze has reached a pinnacle. The fans are doing all they can to convey their wishes to the team for the final. The sale of T-shirts, caps and wristbands has gained momentum over the past few days. Apart from Team India T-shirts, the demand for Sri Lankan team T-shirt has also gone up.”

Outfits specially made for the World Cup are also available over special counters in shops, which are seeing queues lining up outside.

These special T-shirts that are designed separately for men, women and children are available in both round neck and collars. The World Cup logo is printed on the sleeves of the T-shirts, which are coming in white, red, black, blue, grey and dark green colours at reputed showrooms in the city.

Promod Gupta, a resident of Frazer Road, said: “I purchased this T-shirt as I wanted to see India win the World Cup. Now that India has reached the final, I will cheer our team in this tee. My brother had asked me to buy the Sri Lanka team shirt, which is costlier than the Indian team’s, as the quality is better.”

Caps in different colours are also adding charm to the occasion. Carrying the logo of the Indian cricket team, these are available between Rs 50 and Rs 100.

The city hotels, too, are making the optimum use of the occasion. While several hotels had already joined in the fun, they have now made extra arrangements too.

A cricket quiz based on the ICC World Cup 2007 has been arranged by Hotel Maurya. Restaurant manager Kunal Trivedi said: “We have arranged for a cricket quiz on the last world cup. The winner will get a free dinner at out hotel tomorrow. Apart from putting in a giant LCD screen for the cricket lovers, we will also offer special discounts on drinks. On a 60ml Black Dog, another 30ml will be served to the guest, free of cost.”

Hotel Chanakya, which has a projector in place to screen the match, has made sure guests can watch the match from every corner of the restaurant.

Restaurant manager Aftab Alam said as the restaurant was packed on the day of the India-Pakistan semi-final match, the authorities have added extra chairs for guests.

Alam added: “All our guests want is to sit in the front to get the best view of the match. But it is not possible for us to install an LCD screen or projector in every corner. So we have put a large screen so that guests, even who would sit at the back, are able to watch the match.”