18,000 Indians, 12,000 Pakistanis, and 2,000 SL Police: Scale of India-Pakistan showdown

Tens of thousands of Indian and Pakistani fans have converged on Colombo for the high-voltage India-Pakistan clash, turning the city into a fortress with massive security deployment. Beyond politics and critique, the match has energised local livelihoods, packed the stadium to capacity and reaffirmed why this rivalry remains cricket’s most powerful spectacle.

By PRATYUSH RAJ