India and Pakistan followers within the stands earlier than the Pakistan-India match on the Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on September 14, 2025. — Reuters
Costs of flights and lodge bookings to Colombo, Sri Lanka, have soared as hundreds of followers flock to town to observe India play Pakistan on Sunday in cricket’s Twenty20 World Cup.
The neighbouring international locations and cricket rivals are because of meet throughout the group stage of the event, which is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, after Pakistan reversed a call to boycott the match earlier within the week.
The sport at Sri Lanka’s largest stadium is bought out with roughly 35,000 tickets bought and forward of the match, most lodges in Colombo have doubled their costs — the price of a room has climbed as excessive as $660 an evening from a typical price ticket of about $100-$150 per evening, a number of reserving websites confirmed.
After the match was finalised this week, last-minute bookings led to fuller flights from main cities like Chennai and Delhi, in response to three Colombo journey businesses.
Flights from Chennai, which is about one and a half hours away, have greater than tripled to round $623 — $756 whereas flights from Delhi are up greater than 50% to roughly $666.
Nalin Jayasundera, President of Sri Lanka Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) stated lodges have been booked out. “Most fans are coming on all-inclusive packages that could be $1,500-$2000 or even higher depending on ticket, hotel, and flight prices,” Jayasundera stated.
Tourism is the third largest overseas alternate earner for Sri Lanka, well-known for its historic temples, pristine seashores, and luxurious tea plantations.
It’s hoped that internet hosting extra sporting occasions may increase Sri Lanka’s financial progress, which is recovering from a extreme monetary disaster and a latest cyclone, which killed 650 folks.
Buddhika Hewawasam, chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Improvement Authority, advised Reuters that within the first 10 days of February, roughly 20% of the 100,000 guests to Sri Lanka have been there for the Pakistan-India cricket match.
The island nation is hoping to place itself as a impartial venue for matches between political rivals.
“This is clearly showing confidence in Sri Lanka as a neutral cricket venue. Whether it’s India, Pakistan or Bangladesh, this is a welcome message to all South Asian countries that they can play cricket in Sri Lanka,” he stated.
Lahore native Mian Sultan is trying ahead to his journey to Sri Lanka to observe the sport.
“I think it’s going to be a great experience,” stated Sultan, who spent $800 on a front-row seat to observe the sport alongside a buddy, who’s flying in from New Zealand. “I’m really excited about this match.”
Sultan added he thought Pakistan “absolutely” may come out on high on Sunday.
