Rehan Fernando is excited during a 20-minute drive to the Premadasa, not precisely by the thoughts of an India vs Pakistan match that keeps millions of fans busy across stadiums, living rooms, pubs, and social media. For many, the India vs Pakistan match, even without a direct connection to them, is a money spinner.Fernando is not alone. The road opens into a street of pubs and bistros, but on a Saturday night, Indian and Pakistani visitors outnumber locals. We have also received some requests to cancel the room bookings after Pakistan announced its decision to boycott this match. "Maybe we can have more India vs Pakistan matches in Colombo.

Source: The Telegraph February 15, 2026 09:31 UTC