Cricket fans from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are showing strong interest in the upcoming India-Pakistan match in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The match will be played on Sunday, February 15, at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
India vs Pakistan World Cup: fans face rising costs
According to Gulf media reports, a weekend trip to Colombo for the match is now costing around AED 7,000.
Travel agents say bookings have increased sharply over the past few days. Both flight tickets and hotel prices have gone up.
“Airfares have risen noticeably, and hotel rates have been adjusted upwards due to the heightened demand,” said one travel agent.
What are the travel charges to Colombo?
Return flights from Dubai to Colombo are now averaging about AED 3,700, or 281,604 Pakistani rupees.
Additionally, the prices are varying depending on the availability of the seat and travel dates.
Hotels in Colombo
Hotel costs have also increased. Mid range hotels for three nights are now around AED 2,200 or 167,440 Pakistani rupees.
Depending on the location and quality, some hotels are even charging up to AED 4,000, or 304,437 Pakistani rupees.
Mid-tier stadium tickets are expected to cost between AED 400, or 30,443 Pakistani rupees, and AED 600, or 45,665 Pakistani rupees.
In total, fans travelling from the UAE are likely to spend between AED 6,000, that is 456,656 Pakistani rupees, and AED 7,000, that is 532,766 Pakistani rupees.
Pakistan vs India
In T20 internationals, India and Pakistan have played 16 matches. India has won 13, while Pakistan has won three.
In T20 World Cups, the two teams have met eight times. India leads with six wins. Pakistan has won once, and one match had no result.
ICC: Pakistan vs India T20 World Cup
The tournament also faced serious financial risks due to a boycott announced by Pakistan in solidarity with Bangladesh. This move could have affected billions in revenue for the ICC.
Broadcast rights, sponsorship deals, and the revenue-sharing system were all at risk, according to the reports.
India vs Pakistan World Cup 2026: rain threat
According to different meteorological reports, there is a 50 per cent chance of rain and thunderstorms on match day.
Additionally, the experts say that the likelihood of showers will be higher in the evening. Around 2.1 mm of rain is expected in the city around 6:00 PM.
If the match is completely washed out due to rain, ICC rules state that both Pakistan and India will be awarded one point each.
Travel to Sri Lanka to watch Pakistan match
Fans can now travel to Sri Lanka for the match by applying for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
Pakistani citizens cannot enter visa-free. The ETA is an online approval for short-term visits for tourism, business, or transit.
After approval, visitors receive a 30-day visa on arrival with double entry allowed.
The ETA does not require passport copies, photographs, or in-person verification.
India squad
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Rinku Singh.
Pakistan squad
Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan and Usman Tariq.
Read more: How to watch Pakistan vs India World Cup match on Feb 15?
