Tickets for the much-anticipated India-Pakistan match in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held on Sunday, February 15, are being sold for as high as Rs 100,000 (approximately INR 28,000), the Daily Mirror reported.
The increase comes as fan interest across South Asia has increased, with the match being seen as the most eye-catching match of the tournament.
Limited availability and high demand appear to have pushed prices in the secondary market far above their true value.
While a very limited number of tickets were available on the ICC website this week, there have been rumours that tickets have been sold to fans who had registered in advance.
However, the ICC has been very vague about the ticket sales for Sunday’s India-Pakistan match.
Meanwhile, Indian media has reported that flight fares between Mumbai and Colombo have increased sharply after it was confirmed that India and Pakistan will face each other in the T20 World Cup.
“According to News18, round-trip tickets are now around Rs 60,000, an increase of nearly Rs 10,000 within minutes of the announcement. Online bookings showed that Air India’s Chandigarh-Colombo flight for February 15-16 would cost approximately Rs 63,000. IndiGo fares were in the range of Rs 70,000 to Rs 74,000. Delhi to Colombo fares are between Rs 40,000 and 45,000,” the report said.
The heat came after Pakistan earlier decided to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India, citing geopolitical tensions.
However, the Pakistan cricket team later agreed to play against its old rival on the orders of its government.
“The Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan team to take the field for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be held at the R. Premadasa International Stadium on February 15, 2026,” the government said in a statement on Monday.
Since Pakistan decided to boycott the match against India, there have been intense discussions between the Pakistan Cricket Board, Bangladesh Cricket Board and the ICC.
Sri Lanka Cricket and the ICC have asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to reconsider its decision to boycott the match against India.
Bangladesh Cricket Board President Aminul Islam also urged Pakistan to play the match against India.
According to a report in the Indian Express, the decision to reschedule the match helped the International Cricket Council avoid a revenue loss of nearly $174 million.
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