International cricket returns to Pakistan amid massive security measures

The last time the country hosted such an event was in 1996. It was banished in 2009 after terrorists targeted Sri Lanka’s team, wounding six players. Imposing security measures are in place with the deployment of 20,000 men and snipers on rooftops. Only India refuses to play in the country with matches scheduled in the United Arab Emirates.

Islamabad (AsiaNews) – Pakistan is set to host the 2025 International Cricket Council Champions Trophy, which kicks off today with eight participating teams. This is the first major event in the South Asian country in 30 years.

The last time it hosted a World Cup was in 1996, under the International Cricket Council.

Teams from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa are expected to play during the three-week competition with the final scheduled for 9 March.

All the teams will play in three different stadiums in the country, except bitter rivals India, whose matches will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, after the Indian cricket board refused to send its team to Pakistan out of security considerations.

In England and South Africa, politicians called for Afghanistan to be excluded because of the Taliban regime's strict restrictions on women's mobility, education and ability to work.

The opening match in Karachi will pit the host nation against New Zealand.

For Pakistanis, who are crazy about cricket, the international event is an occasion to celebrate after an international ban was imposed following an attack on the Sri Lankan national team in 2009.

The terrorist incident saw six players wounded, while six policemen and two passers-by were killed. As a result Pakistan lost the chance of hosting the 2009 Champions Trophy and the 2011 Men's Cricket World Cup.

After being shunned for years, a team from the South Asian nation was able to play its first international challenge in 2015 against Zimbabwe; since 2019, other major foreign teams have returned to the country, amid imposing security measures.

For this occasion, at least 20,000 police and security personnel have been deployed in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, the venues of the matches, with snipers on the buildings surrounding the stadiums ready to open fire.

Meanwhile, the security situation in Pakistan remains precarious with almost daily incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province in the country’s north-west, and Balochistan in the south-west.

By contrast, the eastern province of Punjab and the southern province of Sindh, where the matches will be played, remain largely calm despite a high security level.

Some observers have noted one last factor; for the first and perhaps only time, event organisers and the local and central authorities of the host country are under greater pressure than the players themselves.

In fact, the expectations for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to successfully host the Champions Trophy are even greater than those for the players, with most Pakistani fans tolerant towards the latter.

This might reduce pressures on the Pakistani team, which could thus be the tournament’s dark horse.

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