Ticket prices to Sri Lanka surge after govt gives go ahead for Pakistan–India T20 World Cup clash

All flights from Lahore to Sri Lanka are now fully booked, business class tickets on same route have also sold out

LAHORE:

Airlines increased ticket prices to Sri Lanka on Tuesday after the government's decision giving the go ahead to the national cricket team to participate in the Pakistan–India T20 World Cup match.

The sharp rise in demand comes amid heightened interest surrounding the Pakistan-India fixture, traditionally one of the most anticipated contests in international cricket.

The decision regarding the Pakistan-India cricket match came on Monday night that Pakistan would go ahead with participating in their high-stakes February 15 clash against India in the T20 World Cup, after the government gave the nod to "protect the spirit of cricket" following much drama and debate over the matter.

Travel agent Ayub told The Express Tribune that "due to the abrupt confirmation of the Pakistan–India fixture, the fare for a ticket to Sri Lanka has risen from Rs150,000 to Rs185,000".

He added that fares had increased by "between Rs20,000 and Rs25,000" after the announcement of the high-profile match.

Ayub further said that all flights from Lahore to Sri Lanka were "now fully booked", while business class tickets on the same route were also sold out.

He said that the affected airlines included SriLankan Airlines, Etihad Airways and Emirates.

Read: Pakistan to go ahead with high-stakes T20 India clash to 'protect the spirit of cricket'

The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, began on February 7 but was overshadowed after Bangladesh refused to play in India citing security concerns amid soured political relations between the neighbours.

Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the tournament after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected their request to move their matches to Sri Lanka. Pakistan expressed solidarity with Bangladesh and protested the ICC decision, subsequently announcing that the national team would not play against India.

The development to reverse Pakistan's boycott followed negotiations that included the ICC and the cricket boards of Pakistan and Bangladesh, along with consultations among national leaders nations such as Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.

On Sunday, ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam landed in Lahore and held marathon talks with Naqvi at Gaddafi Stadium.

During the meeting, Khawaja urged Pakistan to reconsider its decision not to play against India, saying the team should participate "in the broader interest of cricket". The BCB president thanked Pakistan for its support during the talks.

Subsequently, on Monday, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged Pakistan to play its T20 World Cup clash against India in a conversation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, recalling Pakistan's past solidarity with Sri Lankan cricket during difficult times.

The government late on Monday night directed the Pakistan national cricket team to take the field on February 15, with the decision taken to "protect the spirit of cricket".

The ICC also confirmed that no penalties or sanctions would be imposed on Bangladesh in relation to its non-participation in the T20 World Cup. In a joint statement with the PCB and BCB, the governing body noted that Bangladesh remains a valued full member with a rich cricketing history and a vital role in global cricket development.