Dubai calling: Kol fans flock to desert city for Indo-Pak showdown
Times of India | 22 February 2025
12 Kolkata: More than 100 cricket fans from the city will be flying to Dubai over the next two days to catch the ‘greatest rivalry' on the cricket pitch — India crossing swords with Pakistan — on Sunday. While most have clubbed a short trip to the desert city, which is also a big shopping destination, with the match, others will be at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium just to cheer for Team India. Demand for both match and flight tickets soared over the last three to four days, said travel agents.
"We received requests for flight bookings from fans who already got match tickets. Most are cricket fans keen to catch the Indo-Pak match, which rarely happens in India. This could be the only time the arch-rivals meet this year, so the interest level is high. Then, there are those who are on their way to Europe on business and will be stopping over at Dubai for a day, watch the match, and take a connecting flight the next day," said Travel Agents Federation of India member Anil Punjabi, who also owns ARES Travels.
Some on their way back to Kolkata from Europe, too, will be stopping over at Dubai on Sunday for the match. City entrepreneur Mahesh Punjabi will be travelling to Dubai on Saturday morning with a group of six friends who call themselves ‘Twelfth Man'. They tour the world to watch India-Pakistan matches and were there in Dubai in 2021 for the T20 World Cup and again for the Asia Cup. "We watched more than 10 Indo-Pak matches around the world, but Dubai remains special for it is like a second home to both Pakistan and India. I am excited for the teams look evenly poised. India beat Bangladesh convincingly, but they need to lift their game further against Pakistan," said Mahesh Punjabi, who will be taking a morning flight on Saturday along with friends Deepak Daryanani and Tarun Daga.
The atmosphere and the excitement of an India-Pak match can best be experienced from the stands, said Daga. "Every India-Pakistan match is an experience to cherish. It's not just the contest between the bat and the ball but the tension, the rivalry, the colourful jerseys and the flags, the deafening cheer at the fall of a wicket, and the joy and despair of fans make it a unique event," he said.
Around three travel agencies are flying out more than 60 from Kolkata on Saturday and early on Sunday for the match, according to Joydeep Mukherjee of Meghdutam Travels. "Around six are travelling through my agency, and a couple more could join on Saturday. Those who couldn't arrange for tickets for the Indo-Pak match are looking for tickets for the India-New Zealand tie, which is also a Sunday," added Mukherjee.
Stay updated with breaking news, bank holidays and upcoming public holidays in march.