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.

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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.

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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.

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