Cricket crazy fans desperate to witness Saturday's World Cup blockbuster between India and Pakistan will sleep in hospitals, a source told AFP, rather than hotels where some prices have been hiked by up to 10 times their standard rates.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Thousands of fans have descended on the western Indian city of Ahmedabad from across the country and overseas to witness a rare meeting of the bitter cricket rivals at the 132,000-seater stadium named after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A prominent hotel in the city usually charges 6,000 rupees ($72) for a deluxe room but on Friday, Saturday and Sunday the price for a day has been hiked to 70,000 rupees ($841).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, by checking into a city hospital for a health check, the cost is 7,000 rupees ($84) a day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's a double act, I believe. They want a full-body check up and an overnight stay, probably to watch the match," a city doctor told AFP on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"These are mostly NRIs (Non-resident Indians) from the United States and the UK who have booked deluxe one-bed rooms and have opted for a full health package."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The doctor added: "We have to be cautious with these bookings, because our primary aim is patient care. We can't just hand out a bed to watch the match. But we can't deny check-ups for patients with medical history."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Prices of flights have also gone up during the weekend while Indian railways has added two special trains for fans travelling between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The two neighbours only play cricket with each other in international tournaments and their last bi-lateral meeting was when Pakistan toured India in 2012.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We had booked a hotel in June soon after the schedule was announced, but had to re-adjust the dates when the match was brought forward by a day," Henish Patel, who has flown in from Birmingham to meet his family and watch the match, told AFP.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We usually come to India during Diwali (one of the biggest festivals of the Hindu calender) but this time it's the India-Pakistan festival and here we are."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan journalists only this week received visas to travel for the World Cup ahead of the big match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Fans, however, from across the border are still awaiting visa for travel to India.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Security has been on high alert for the contest with 11,000 police personnel deployed outside the stadium, which resembles a fortress even two days ahead of the match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n