The stage is set for the India vs Pakistan match in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. A $30 million, 34,000-seat cricket stadium is being constructed on the grounds of a public park in Long Island, New York. It is the venue for the first-ever T20 World Cup in the United States. Despite cricket not famous in the city, this moment has been gradually and meticulously nurtured. Local cricketers have been using garbage cans as wickets for decades, laying jute mats on fields to make them more level, and adamantly advocating for cricket pitches and more park space.

The attention is only on one particular cricket match—the intense matchup between India and Pakistan. Both teams will face each other on American territory for the first time. Tickets for other matches, South Africa versus Pakistan, Sri Lanka versus Canada were sold out slowly, while the queue for this match was overrun almost instantly, with over 3,000,000 applications and 200 documented subscriptions.

Tickets for the all-inclusive travel packages that sell for hundreds of dollars include hotel accommodations, transportation, and preferred seats are left. Others have turned to online ticket marketplaces such as StubHub, where, tickets for India vs Pakistan match are being sold from $1,400 to $70,000, while tickets for Sri Lanka vs Scotland started at $35.

There are reports of widespread ticket scalping and corruption. One fan revealed if she’s denied a ticket, she is prepared to sit outside the stadium to cheer.

These are the lighthearted rumors, where the antics are remembered years later. However, more theories have come up, ones that are damning when relations between the two countries are an all-time low due to issues like Kashmir. Some speculate that the attendees will primarily be fans of Indian descent, who have the advantage of numbers and financial stability.

Ultimately, ICC is not responsible for guaranteeing that the spectators are picked equally, or that the cries of ‘India-India’ do not overpower those of ‘Pakistan-Pakistan.’ What happens if their applause turns into ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants?

Related