Dubai is abuzz ahead of the build-up for the blockbuster India vs Pakistan encounter in the Asia Cup 2025. But in a twist of fate, tickets for the September 14, Dubai International Stadium clash are still up for grabs a rare situation for what is arguably cricket’s fiercest rivalry.
As the hype surrounding the game continues to run high, availability of seats, particularly in the premium stands, has left fans and insiders baffled. Emirates Cricket’s senior official opined that ticket sales could have been hurt by the non-availability of Indian legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who retired from T20Is last year.
On Tuesday, the tournament formally began with the captains’ press conference. In a well-rehearsed gesture, organisers seated Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan in between India’s Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha, keeping each of the two rival skippers from directly facing the other and maintaining the atmosphere diplomatic.
“We are surprised that flow of sales for India vs Pakistan is much low, till the time we sold out with lower stands only but the upper and top tear stands are still on sale, in the Champions Trophy for the same match we had sale on two times in a single day like we opened ticket window 2pm and 4pm and we were sold out that time in just less then 4 minutes, but this time craze is very dull, it might be it’s because of absence of Rohit and Virat,” said an official from Emirates Cricket to news agency ANI.
Tickets for India vs Pakistan games are traditionally sold out in hours frequently minutes after release. This time, though, sky-high prices and bundled ticket packages seem to have dampened demand considerably.
On ticketing sites like Viagogo and Platinumlist, some of the high-end seats are still available. The VIP Suites East cost a whopping INT 2,57,815 for two tickets. This premium deal features aisle-side seating, all-you-can-eat food and beverages, VIP lounge and club access, a parking pass, and exclusive entry points and restrooms.
Other high-end levels are not far behind. Access to the Royal Box is INR 2,30,700 for two seats, with the Sky Box East package priced at INR 1,67,851. Even mid-tier ones have high prices attached:
Platinum: INR 75,659
Grand Lounge: INR 41,153
Pavilion West: INR 28,174
General East (cheapest): INR 9,800 (approx.) for two
That even the most popular tickets are not selling is rare for an India-Pakistan match, which has otherwise seen a ticket frenzy in the past. With only days to go for the high-profile showdown, everyone now looks to see if the fans will make a last-minute rush or if pricing has finally dampened enthusiasm for the most coveted game of cricket.