Ahmedabad is ablaze with cricket fervor as the eagerly anticipated World Cup group stage showdown between arch-rivals India and Pakistan approaches, set to take place on Saturday. The heightened excitement is evident in the hospitals near the match venue, where an unusual surge of patients is observed, all seeking check-up “packages” that include an overnight stay to coincide with this marquee event of the 50-over cricket spectacle.
In this intriguing phenomenon, many cricket enthusiasts have devised an ingenious way to secure affordable accommodation, as hotel prices have skyrocketed up to twentyfold in the lead-up to the match. Several doctors have acknowledged the rush for these check-up packages, considering them a creative means of obtaining reasonably priced lodging during the cricket extravaganza.
Tushar Patel, President of the Ahmedabad Medical Association, spoke with Reuters, stating, “We have come across some cases of people coming to watch the India-Pakistan match also taking an appointment for health check-ups and staying in hospitals.”
The Ahmedabad Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association, however, has advised its members against accommodating such fans, asserting that “hospitals are not meant for non-patients,” as stated by its president, Bharat Gadhavi, to Reuters.
The history between the neighboring countries, India and Pakistan, has been marred by three wars since their independence in 1947, with tensions further escalating after the 2008 Mumbai attack. Despite this geopolitical backdrop, the appetite for a cricket clash between these neighbors, who only meet in multi-team events, remains insatiable.
Both India and Pakistan are entering this high-stakes encounter with a perfect record of two wins each in the ongoing tournament.
The demand for tickets for Saturday’s match was so intense that the initial batch sold out within an hour in August, prompting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to release an additional 14,000 tickets earlier this month. Individuals like Ahmedabad resident Hemish Patel and his friends resorted to various tactics to secure tickets, with each one priced at 6,000 Indian rupees ($72.15). Patel noted that they used multiple devices, constantly refreshing the site, and were fortunate to book their tickets within ten minutes of the sale’s commencement.
However, the immense demand has led to ticket resale values soaring up to 25 times the face value, resulting in the arrest of four individuals for selling counterfeit tickets.
Travel expenses have also surged, with airfare increasing up to fourfold, and Indian railways planning to run super-fast trains linking Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
The Narendra Modi Stadium, with a capacity of 134,000, will serve as the perfect setting for this fiercely contested cricket rivalry. The match’s opening will be marked by a musical performance and the presence of Bollywood luminaries, including Amitabh Bachchan and Rajnikanth, among others.
To ensure security, Ahmedabad has been declared a “no-drone zone” on Saturday, and an extensive deployment of 11,000 security personnel is planned for this high-profile event, as confirmed by Ahmedabad police commissioner GS Malik.
Despite the intense competition on the field, players from both India and Pakistan maintain cordial relations, exemplifying sportsmanship. A recent incident during the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka saw Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi presenting a gift to Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah for his newborn baby, a moment that went viral.
For one Indian, Liyakat Khan, the match carries special significance, as his daughter, Samiya, is married to Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali. He expressed his anticipation of reuniting with his daughter and the joy of meeting his grandchild.
As cricket aficionados gear up for this marquee event, Ahmedabad resonates with excitement and anticipation, promising a spectacle that transcends boundaries and geopolitics.
