Security guards outside the ICC Academy in Dubai struggled to control hundreds of eager fans jostling to catch a glimpse of the Indian team’s practice session on the eve of the much-anticipated game against Pakistan.Anyone with a lanyard and an access ID is being asked for passes for the big ICC Champions Trophy match. Tears stream down a child’s face after missing out on a Babar Azam selfie outside the Dubai International Stadium.After a quiet start to the tournament in Dubai, the India-Pakistan game is generating great excitement.There is a downside though – the cheapest ticket for a seat in the 30,000-seater Dubai International Stadium costs Rs 12,000 or 500 dirhams. For the lucky few, an Indian businessman is a saviour. Anis Sajan, the vice-chairman of the Danube Group, used a lucky draw to distribute 100 match tickets as a Ramadan gift to his blue-collar workforce, majority of them from India and Pakistan. He has also organised a special screening for those who missed out on the free tickets. Team India defeats Pakistan by six runs in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 (Image source: Express file photo)“Cricket is more than just a sport. It is an emotion that unites people across borders. Many of our blue-collar workers are devoted cricket fans, but the high ticket prices and overwhelming demand make attending a live match a distant dream. Watching their cricketing idols live in action will be an unforgettable experience for them,” Sajan said.With nearly 3.7 million Indians and 1.7 million Pakistanis in the UAE, demand for tickets has gone through the roof.Sajan is not the only business tycoon giving tickets as gifts to cricket-obsessed employees.Story continues below this ad“We always get gifts from our owners during Ramadan. This time, since we got to know in advance that the match is happening here, our bosses have gifted match tickets for the game. If not, there was no way we would have been able to buy tickets,” Rakesh, who works in the hospitality industry in Dubai, said.A cinema chain is screening the game ‘live’ and malls are reportedly facing a staff crunch on Sunday as leave applications have piled up.For ‘hosts’ Pakistan, the game in Dubai is a do-or-die one after their loss in the opener against New Zealand. After waiting for nearly three decades to host an ICC event, Mohammad Rizwan’s team is staring at an early exit. None less than the Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reminded the players of the high stakes involved. “…the real task now is to not only win the Champions Trophy but also defeat our arch rival,” he weighed in earlier this month. India vs Pakistan match will be played in Dubai. (Reuters)What’s guaranteed is a full house at the Dubai International Stadium with all roads leading to the Sports City – roads are set to be closed for security reasons from 9 am for a 1 pm start.Story continues below this adSharjah, 46 minutes away by road, was the spiritual home away from home for India-Pakistan cricket in the 1980s and 90s, but those in Dubai will hope for a modern classic despite the evident gulf in class between the sides in the 50-over game.In ODIs in Dubai, India, 2023 World Cup finalists, have won both the previous games against Pakistan, while in T20Is, the latter has won two out of three meetings.The players didn’t meet each other on match eve. India trained at the ICC Academy while Pakistan at the Dubai Stadium. To avoid any possible tension between fan groups, the local Indian and Pakistani communities have decided to hold separate screenings.On the eve of the game, in-form batsman Shubman Gill was asked if games between the two sides were over-hyped. “India-Pakistan has a long history. It’s an exciting contest when both these teams play. Everyone enjoys watching it. If so many people are happy to watch the match, who are we to say that it is under-hyped or over-hyped? We go there to play cricket,” he said. “I think it is a big match, but I think the biggest match would obviously be the final that the team plays,” he said.Pakistan coach Aaqib Javed acknowledged the importance of the match if Pakistan are to stay alive in the tournament.Story continues below this ad“There is no game which you play without pressure. We lost to New Zealand, which has a good balance. We still have a chance to qualify. Against India, it doesn’t matter if it is a must- win or not. All of our players are waiting to raise the bar,” Javed said.India, despite being without strike bowler Jasprit Bumrah, and with an out-of-form Virat Kohli, will have the edge going into the match. Whichever way the result goes, fans will be hoping for a modern classic in Dubai.