Industry experts predict that as fans from India, Pakistan and other cricket-loving nations finalise travel plans in the coming weeks, a steep rise in bookings and airfare spikes between 20 and 50 per cent will follow, with last-minute fares potentially doubling.

Veteran Fakhar Zaman is in the mix, having played a monumental role in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. He scored a maiden ODI ton (114 off 106 deliveries) at The Oval, London, as Pakistan beat India by 180 runs to claim the silverware. Also recalled are Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, and Saud Shakeel.

India will be playing their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai as part of a hybrid model deal between the ICC, PCB and BCCI and if they qualify for the final, then the title clash would also be held in the UAE city on March 9.

Though ICC ensured to keep a day reserve for the captains’ joint photo shoot, PCB reportedly cancelled the event citing the ‘unavailability of teams due to tight traveling schedules’.