World Cup: Few Mumbai schools to screen India vs Aus semi-final match

The World Cup fever has gripped Mumbai schools too. Young, school-going cricket fans will be able to catch the World Cup semi-final match between Australia and India live on Thursday, despite having to attend school.

The World Cup fever has gripped Mumbai schools too. Young, school-going cricket fans will be able to catch the World Cup semi-final match between Australia and India live on Thursday, despite having to attend school.

Rohit-Sharma-plays-a-shot-on-his-way-to-an-unbeaten-half-century-against-in-India-s-Group-B-against-UAE-AFP-Photo

While most of the schools in Mumbai are busy with their exams, some schools are planning a screening of the semi-final on Thursday and the tournament's final match on Sunday, in the school premises so that students do not miss out on the action.

Instead of going to the sports complex during the sports period in the morning, 350 students of JCBN International School, Parel will watch the live coverage of the semi-final match in their school. The school has set up a giant screen in its performing arts centre for students for viewing. The school will screen it from 11am during the sports period for students of classes 3 to 7. However, the students will receive live updates from 9am onwards.

"Since the World Cup began, students have been discussing team composition, strategy, statistics, so we decided to hold a screening in the school itself. The students also got lucky as they do not have any exams or lectures on Thursday," said Fatima Agarkar, managing trustee of the school. "Cricket is big in our school and we wanted them to watch the match together."

Even the students of classes 1 and 2 will watch the game during their arts, craft and drama periods. "When they heard that we were holding a screening for the older children, the younger ones demanded that they too wanted to see the match," added Agarkar.

Swami Vivekananda International School in Gorai, where cricket player Rohit Sharma had studied, is positive that India will make it to the finals and have also decided to screen the final match of the World Cup tournament on Sunday in the school premises to cheer for Sharma.

"We will call Rohit's parents to watch the match with us. Even though it's a Sunday, we will ask all students and teachers to attend the screening and hold a big celebration," said Yogesh Patel, director of the school. "We are hoping that Sharma will put up a good show."

Those students who have their exams on Thursday, said that they will head straight for home after the exam to watch the match. "It's my last paper on Thursday, so a few friends have decided to get together and watch the match at my house after the paper," said Supriya Sharma, an SSC student from Andheri.