India–Pakistan face off in high-voltage T20 clash tonight

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will face off in a crucial T20 World Cup encounter today at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Sri Lanka, with a place in the Super Eight at stake.

All 35,000 tickets for the match have been sold, with reports of black-market prices soaring to four times the original value.

International media outlets, including TRT World and AFP, said heightened political tensions, controversy surrounding Bangladesh’s exit and speculation over a possible Pakistan boycott have further intensified interest in the fixture.

The match, scheduled to begin at 7:30pm Bangladesh time, is expected to draw massive global television viewership. While India–Pakistan matches are often believed to attract over a billion viewers, the highest verified ICC audience remains the 2011 World Cup final, which drew 558 million viewers worldwide.

Colombo has seen a surge in tourist arrivals ahead of the game.

Reuters reported that soaring demand has driven up airfares and hotel rates several-fold. Hotel rooms that typically cost $100–150 per night have climbed as high as $660. Airfares from Chennai to Colombo have tripled to between $623 and $756, while fares from Delhi have risen nearly 50% to around $666.

Sri Lanka Inbound Tour Operators Association President Nalin Jayasundera said most hotels are nearly fully booked, with many fans opting for all-inclusive travel packages priced between $1,500 and $2,000.

Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam noted that around 20% of the nearly 100,000 visitors arriving in the first 10 days of the tournament travelled specifically for the match.

Both teams have won two matches each in Group A. With bilateral series suspended for years, India and Pakistan now meet only in global or regional tournaments at neutral venues, adding further intensity to one of cricket’s most anticipated rivalries.