Pallekele, Sri Lanka – Nestled in the serene hills, a mere half-hour drive from Kandy, the quaint town of Pallekele is a serene haven that typically lures tourists seeking tranquility amidst lush tea plantations. The air here is so still that even the gentlest bird’s chirp can rouse you from slumber. However, since Friday morning, this tranquil locale, with its population of just over one lakh, has been anything but quiet. The once-sleepy town has sprung to life, transformed by the arrival of cricket enthusiasts who’ve descended from the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. The occasion? The first of six potential encounters over the next two months, beginning with the Asia Cup, between the fierce rivals, India and Pakistan, slated for Saturday.
For cricket fans, especially those eager to witness the rivalry between India and Pakistan, the tickets for the World Cup match between these two titans, set to take place in Ahmedabad, have been elusive and exorbitantly priced. Therefore, many traveling fans have opted for Pallekele as an affordable and accessible alternative.
A passionate Indian cricket fan, who journeyed from Singapore to be here, shared his reasoning, “Going to Ahmedabad had more complexities because tickets for the game are yet to go on sale, and there is no surety whether we will get them. Even if we bought a ticket, flight tickets are on the expensive side during the World Cup. So, this option looked safe and affordable, and since it is Sri Lanka, even the cost has been manageable.”
With both teams fielding almost full-strength lineups, the impending match promises a closely fought contest, although the fierce animosity that once characterized this rivalry seems to have mellowed over time. A camaraderie is now palpable among the players of the two teams. As Pakistan arrived for their training session shortly after India, some players exchanged warm greetings with hugs. A standout moment was when Pakistan’s fast bowler, Haris Rauf, shook hands and embraced India’s star batsman, Virat Kohli, who had dispatched him for two consecutive sixes in Melbourne during the T20 World Cup last year.
In recent times, matches between India and Pakistan have taken on a more amicable tone, resembling a mutual admiration society, where players lavish praise and support on each other in public forums. If Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, backed Kohli during his extended lean patch last year, Kohli reciprocated by praising Babar as the best all-format player. On Friday, Babar touched upon Kohli again, saying, “When I met him in 2019, he was at his peak. He’s still at his peak. I wanted to take something from his game. I learned a lot from him. He gave a detailed explanation to all my questions. That helped me, and there is always good respect between us, and it is good to keep it going. When you do such things for each other, it feels really good.”
An engrossing cricket contest awaits, with India having had the upper hand over Pakistan for most of the last decade. However, recent developments indicate that the tables might be turning. In their last Asia Cup encounter, played in a T20 format, Pakistan defeated India decisively. Although India did manage to secure a victory in the T20 World Cup, it required a special innings from Kohli. This time, Pakistan, the No. 1 ranked ODI team, enters the fixture well-prepared after a series against Afghanistan in Hambantota last month. In contrast, India begins as the underdogs, and unless they bring their A-game, defeating Pakistan, especially given their recent performances in multi-nation events, will be a formidable challenge.
Yet, India-Pakistan matches transcend the on-field rivalry; they encompass the atmosphere surrounding the game as well. Pallekele is experiencing the unique excitement of hosting an India-Pakistan cricket match. The town’s narrow roads, winding through undulating terrain and teeming with tuk-tuks, are grappling with traffic jams. Local radio stations are broadcasting continuous traffic updates and suggesting alternative routes to evade congestion. On Saturday, a couple of popular schools in the city will dismiss classes early to ensure students can return home without any hassles and, for those eager to witness the game, without the need to skip classes altogether.
The stage is set for a memorable clash between two cricketing giants, and Pallekele, for the first time in a long while, finds itself at the epicenter of this cricketing spectacle. As fans converge from far and wide to witness this epic showdown, the town is abuzz with anticipation, eager to witness not only a thrilling cricket contest but also the camaraderie and spirit that have come to define cricket’s most iconic rivalry.