Prices of flights and hotel bookings to Colombo, Sri Lanka, have soared as thousands of fans flock to the city to watch India play Pakistan on Sunday in cricket’s Twenty20 World Cup.

The neighbouring countries and cricket rivals are due to meet during the group stage of the tournament, which is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, after Pakistan reversed a decision to boycott the match earlier in the week.

The game at Sri Lanka’s largest stadium is sold out with roughly 35,000 tickets sold, and ahead of the match, most hotels in Colombo have doubled their prices — the cost of a room has climbed as high as $660 a night from a typical price tag of about $100-$150 per night, multiple booking sites showed.

After the match was finalised this week, last-minute bookings led to fuller flights from major cities like Chennai and Delhi, according to three Colombo travel agencies.

Flights from Chennai, which is about one and a half hours away, have more than tripled to around $623-$756, while flights from Delhi are up more than 50 per cent to roughly $666.

Nalin Jayasundera, President of Sri Lanka Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), said hotels were 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 said.

Tourism is the third largest foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka, famous for its ancient temples, pristine beaches, and lush tea plantations.

It is hoped that hosting more sporting events could boost Sri Lanka’s economic growth, which is recovering from a severe financial crisis and a recent cyclone, which killed 650 people.

Buddhika Hewawasam, chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, told Reuters that in the first 10 days of February, roughly 20pc of the 100,000 visitors to Sri Lanka were there for the India-Pakistan cricket match.

The island nation is hoping to position itself as a neutral 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 said.

Lahore local Mian Sultan is looking forward to his trip to Sri Lanka to watch the game.

“I think it’s going to be a great experience, said Sultan, who spent $800 on a front-row seat to watch the game alongside a friend who is flying in from New Zealand. I’m really excited about this match.”

Sultan added he thought Pakistan absolutely could come out on top on Sunday.

Source link

Pakistan’s Usman Tariq left his cricket ambitions back home to start a salesman’s job in Dubai, before a biopic about India great Mahendra Singh Dhoni changed his life.

The unusual bowling action of the double-jointed spinner has created plenty of chatter in his first T20 World Cup, and now he goes into Sunday’s revived clash against India as one of Pakistan’s main weapons.

His inspiration was born in India, and Usman admits that if he had not watched the 2016 Bollywood movie M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, he might not be playing cricket today.

Based on the life of India’s World Cup-winning captain, the movie told a tale of grit, rejection and eventual glory — and made Usman believe it was never too late to chase his ambition.

Usman, now 30, left Dubai and roamed around the world to mature as a mystery spinner.

Pakistan skipper Salman Agha insisted Usman will be a special weapon when his side face their arch-rivals India.

“Usman is our X-factor and a key weapon,” Salman said ahead of the tournament after Pakistan had used him sparingly to protect his unique action.

Since making his international debut just three months ago, Usman has taken 11 wickets in four T20 internationals, including a hat-trick against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi.

He grabbed a match-defining 3-27 against USA in Colombo on his World Cup debut this week.

Controversial action

The 28-year-old’s bizarre bowling action was reported as illegal twice in the last two years, but was cleared by the International Cricket Council laboratory.

His action carries an element of mystery as he pauses exaggeratedly before releasing the ball in a sling-shot manner.

England’s Tom Banton questioned Usman’s action in the United Arab Emirates T20 League last year.

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green mimicked Usman’s round-arm during the T20 series before the World Cup in Lahore, raising renewed doubts.

But Indian player Ravichandaran Ashwin, himself a great spinner, and umpire Anil Chaudhary declared Usman’s bowling action to be within the rules.

“I believe that it is entirely legal,” Ravichandaran wrote on X, by explaining several factors of the action.

Usman is unperturbed by the doubters.

“I have two corners of my bowling arm elbow, which is rare,” Usman told AFP.

“I have been cleared twice, so I am confident that it’s legal. I have struggled this far and am not worried about such baseless questions.”

Making a name

After Usman left Dubai, a friend introduced him to Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman, who took him to a local coach in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, his hometown.

“Fakhar brought this young and determined boy to me,” Wajahatullah Wasti, a former Pakistan player, told AFP.

“I watched him bowl with amazement as he looked very unique, and I advised him to bowl a little quicker. Today, he has made a name for himself.”

Usman talked about the Dhoni biopic that changed everything.

“I had left behind thinking of making a name in cricket, but one day I watched this film, and it convinced me that I can also do the same,” Usman told AFP.

Usman progressed by leaps and bounds.

He finished with 20 wickets in the Caribbean Premier League last year, forcing his way into the Pakistan team.

“My coach informed me about my selection in the Pakistan team while I was busy with my wedding last year, and initially I thought it was a prank,” said Usman.

“But it was true, so I think my wife brought luck for me.”

From a salesman in Dubai to Pakistan’s potential trump card against India, Usman’s script is still being written.

Source link

Zimbabwe beat a depleted Australia by 23 runs on Friday in Colombo to pull off the biggest shock of the T20 World Cup so far.

After posting 169-2 in their 20 overs, thanks mainly to Brian Bennett’s classy 64 not out, Zimbabwe had Australia 29-4 before dismissing them for 146 in 19.3 overs.

The Zimbabweans, ranked 11th were always in control against their second-ranked opponents in the Group B game at R. Premadasa Stadium after opening bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans ripped out Australia’s top order.

There were sensational scenes at the venue as a group of Zimbabwe fans dressed in their team jerseys celebrated the win with a traditional dance.

“It is a huge win for us,” said Bennett.

“There are fans who have come all the way from Zimbabwe and they have enjoyed the game and it is a special feeling today to get a win here.”

Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers finishing with 4-17.

“I was really happy that today really came off,” said Muzarabani, who was named player of the match.

“I also believe that everyone really bowled well. We missed Richi (Ngarava), but Brad (Evans) really bowled well.

The next step

“It’s really good to beat Australia, but it will also be nice to qualify for the Super Eights. So we’ll be thinking about the next step.”

Australia retained hope of a rearguard victory when Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw put on 77 for the fifth wicket.

But once part-time leg-spinner Ryan Burl induced one of the short game’s great players, Maxwell, to drag on to his stumps for 31, they were never in the hunt and tumbled from 106-4 to 146 all out.

Opening batsman Bennett’s unbeaten 64 off 56 balls was an exercise in controlled aggression as he rarely went the aerial route and found the boundary seven times.

It was the 22-year-old’s 10th half-century in T20 internationals.

“It was the type of wicket you have to do the hard yards,” said Bennett.

Zimbabwe thrashed Oman in their opener and their last two group games will be against Ireland and Sri Lanka.

Co-hosts Sri Lanka have also won both their matches so far.

“We are in a good position to go to the next round having won two out of two,” said Bennett.

Ryan Burl and Bennett put on 70 for the second wicket, a record stand for Zimbabwe in T20 World Cups after an opening partnership of 61 with Tadiwanashe Marumani.

Australia beat Ireland on Wednesday, but with matches to come against Sri Lanka and Oman, another defeat could see them on the plane home after the group stage.

Without their captain Mitchell Marsh for the second match, and the previously ruled out pace spearheads Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Australia’s campaign in the 20-nation tournament is in danger of falling apart at the first hurdle.

The former champions were left with more to worry as Marcus Stoinis was struck on his left palm attempting a return catch halfway through his third over.

The all-rounder was accompanied off the field in pain. He did come out to bat but scored only six.

“Stoinis was going to bat higher and him not being able to bat higher was a blow,” said Renshaw, who top scored with 65.

“Medical staff will examine how bad is his injury. We weren’t good enough today. There is time for flair in T20 cricket.

“We had to rebuild,” he added.

“But we kept losing wickets at regular intervals. It wasn’t our day and we are bitterly disappointed.”

The only bright spot was power batter Tim David being named in the team after missing the Ireland win.

But he made a two-ball duck in his first game since suffering a hamstring injury in the Big Bash League on December 26.

Source link