The Greenpoint Football Stadium has been abandoned temporarily, and Newlands is expecting serpentine queues at a time when offices are generally closed. On Saturday, the IPL will officially kick off, and for the population fed on teasers over the past week, the excitement is strangely unjustified for an Indian domestic event, especially with only a thin spread of South African cricketers sandwiched in the teams.

Inside the ground, there is work pending in the afternoon. A crew has just finished on the hoardings along the circumference and is busy erecting a big stage for the side performances, and eight small platforms for the cheerleaders. Some volunteers are busy replacing Cape Cobras cricket flags with the Indian tri-colour.

The show on Saturday is expected to be a blend of Indian and African culture. “These are called Zimbabwean drums, they sound better than western drums,” says Kenny, who is arranging the tall, cylindrical wooden pieces at the ground. “We play with our hands and sometimes with sticks, but let me tell you they give great music. I’m sure you will love the sound and forget about everything else,” he adds. A snow patrol, a laser show, and roller-skating theatrics will be some of the attractions, along with a ‘butterfly dance with music’ show.

At a distance, a dance troupe is practising a little routine. And there’s Ewin Flynt standing alongside a 22-yard green patch. “There will be a bit of movement, and I will like to keep some of the grass to bind the wicket. I would like to see a lot of fours and sixes. I know the crowd will be looking for that,” he says.

Outside, Leslie has been at the ticket counter for close to an hour. She’s turned up because “almost everyone in the town has been talking about it”.

“I don’t have any favourite team, but I will cheer for any South African who comes out to play. Just want to see some T20 cricket,” she says, passing over the 40 rands across the glass counter for a ticket. “It’s for next week’s game. This weekend’s have been sold out.”

Vincent, meanwhile, is looking at the IPL as a good business opportunity. From selling toys made of thin electrical wires at intersections, he is stocking up knock-off IPL t-shirts. It goes without saying that he’s collecting those with South African names on them to start with.

“Only these will be in demand. We are proud South African people, and the crowd wants to see our guys competing with other boys,” he says, reeling out the names of players in his stock. “I might get in Kevin Pietersen too. He’s South African born, you see.”

Little wonder then that South African players such as Graeme Smith, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, JP Duminy were eager to get done with the Australians, raise the series trophy after Friday’s last one-dayer, and then spilt into different camps. Chennai Super Kings will take on Mumbai Indians to start things off on Saturday, and later on, Bangalore Royal Challengers will play defending champions Rajasthan Royals.

For now, World Cup 2010 will have to take a backseat.