Cricket fans desperate to watch Saturday’s blockbuster World Cup match (7:30 p.m. AEDT) between India and Pakistan will sleep in hospitals, a source told AFP, rather than hotels where some prices have been increased up to 10 times their standard rates.
Thousands of fans descended on the western Indian city of Ahmedabad from across the country and abroad to witness a rare encounter between the bitter cricket rivals at the 132,000-capacity stadium places named in honor of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A major hotel in the city usually charges 6,000 rupees (A$114) for a luxury room, but on Friday, Saturday and Sunday the price for a day was increased to 70,000 rupees (A$1,330).
However, going to a city hospital for a check-up costs 7,000 rupees (A$132) per day.
Watch every match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup live ad-free on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
‘I have no words’ – Aus drop FIVE | 02:02
“It’s a double act, I think. They want a full body exam and stay overnight, probably to watch the match,” a city doctor told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“These are mostly NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) from the US and UK who have booked luxury single-bed rooms and opted for a comprehensive health package.”
The doctor added: “We have to be careful with these bookings because our primary objective is to treat patients. We can’t just hand out a bed to watch the game. But we cannot refuse checks to patients with a medical history.”
Flight prices also increased over the weekend while Indian Railways added two special trains for fans traveling between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
The two neighbors only play cricket together in international tournaments and their last bilateral meeting was during Pakistan’s tour of India in 2012.
“We had booked a hotel in June shortly after the schedule was announced, but had to readjust the dates when the match was moved up a day,” said Henish Patel, who flew in from Birmingham to meet his family and to watch the match. declared to AFP.
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“We usually come to India during Diwali (one of the biggest holidays in the Hindu calendar), but this time it’s the Indo-Pakistani holiday and here we are.”
Just this week, Pakistani journalists were given visas to travel to the World Cup, ahead of the big match.
However, fans across the border are still waiting for a visa to travel to India.
Security was on high alert with 11,000 police deployed outside the stadium, which resembled a fortress even two days before the match.
Babar Azam’s Pakistan trained at the Modi Stadium on Thursday evening while India reached the city a day after beating Afghanistan in New Delhi.
START TIME
7:30 p.m. AEDT (1:30 p.m. local time)
PLACE
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
HOW TO WATCH
Watch every ball of the match, ad-free during play, on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
English coverage begins on Kayo from 6:30 p.m. (AEDT).
Alternative Hindi coverage will begin on Kayo from 7:28 p.m. (AEDT).
Cricket World Cup 2023, India vs Pakistan, start time, how to watch, stream, Hindi coverage, commentary, preview, news, rivalry, history
Cricket fans desperate to watch Saturday’s blockbuster World Cup match (7:30 p.m. AEDT) between India and Pakistan will sleep in hospitals, a source told AFP, rather than hotels where some prices have been increased up to 10 times their standard rates.
Thousands of fans descended on the western Indian city of Ahmedabad from across the country and abroad to witness a rare encounter between the bitter cricket rivals at the 132,000-capacity stadium places named in honor of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A major hotel in the city usually charges 6,000 rupees (A$114) for a luxury room, but on Friday, Saturday and Sunday the price for a day was increased to 70,000 rupees (A$1,330).
However, going to a city hospital for a check-up costs 7,000 rupees (A$132) per day.
Watch every match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup live ad-free on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
‘I have no words’ – Aus drop FIVE | 02:02
“It’s a double act, I think. They want a full body exam and stay overnight, probably to watch the match,” a city doctor told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“These are mostly NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) from the US and UK who have booked luxury single-bed rooms and opted for a comprehensive health package.”
The doctor added: “We have to be careful with these bookings because our primary objective is to treat patients. We can’t just hand out a bed to watch the game. But we cannot refuse checks to patients with a medical history.”
Flight prices also increased over the weekend while Indian Railways added two special trains for fans traveling between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
The two neighbors only play cricket together in international tournaments and their last bilateral meeting was during Pakistan’s tour of India in 2012.
“We had booked a hotel in June shortly after the schedule was announced, but had to readjust the dates when the match was moved up a day,” said Henish Patel, who flew in from Birmingham to meet his family and to watch the match. declared to AFP.
Australian team turns ground staff into storm | 01:34
“We usually come to India during Diwali (one of the biggest holidays in the Hindu calendar), but this time it’s the Indo-Pakistani holiday and here we are.”
Just this week, Pakistani journalists were given visas to travel to the World Cup, ahead of the big match.
However, fans across the border are still waiting for a visa to travel to India.
Security was on high alert with 11,000 police deployed outside the stadium, which resembled a fortress even two days before the match.
Babar Azam’s Pakistan trained at the Modi Stadium on Thursday evening while India reached the city a day after beating Afghanistan in New Delhi.
START TIME
7:30 p.m. AEDT (1:30 p.m. local time)
PLACE
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
HOW TO WATCH
Watch every ball of the match, ad-free during play, on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
English coverage begins on Kayo from 6:30 p.m. (AEDT).
Alternative Hindi coverage will begin on Kayo from 7:28 p.m. (AEDT).
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