After nearly three decades, Pakistan is set to host a major international cricket tournament, the Champions Trophy, starting Wednesday. The event is a significant achievement for the South Asian nation, which was once deemed unsafe for international cricket due to security concerns. Successfully hosting the tournament across three cities—Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi—will be a major boost to Pakistan’s global reputation.
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja, who played a crucial role in securing the tournament for Pakistan in 2021, emphasized the effort required to convince the world that the country is now a safe and capable host.
“Convincing the world that Pakistan is a safe country and that it is capable of delivering such a global event from an administration point of view took serious hard work and convincing,” Raja told AFP. “The world eventually understood our viewpoint.”
Security Concerns and India’s Absence
Despite progress, the build-up to the tournament has not been without challenges. Political tensions between Pakistan and India led to India’s refusal to play its matches on Pakistani soil. Instead, the Indian team will compete in Dubai, while the other seven teams will be based in Pakistan.
Pakistan has significantly ramped up security measures, particularly in the host cities, to ensure a smooth event. While militant attacks in major cities have become rare, security remains a top priority for authorities.
Pakistan’s Long Wait to Host a Major Tournament
Pakistan was originally scheduled to host the Champions Trophy in 2008. However, security concerns stemming from the conflict in neighboring Afghanistan forced the tournament to be moved to South Africa in 2009.
International cricket came to a halt in Pakistan later that year after a terrorist attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team in Lahore, which left several players injured and resulted in the deaths of eight policemen and civilians. In response, Pakistan became a no-go zone for international teams for years.
A military crackdown on militancy, which began in 2014, dramatically improved security. As a result, Test cricket returned to Pakistan in 2019, and teams such as Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa have since toured the country. Their participation in this year’s Champions Trophy marks a significant step in Pakistan’s reintegration into the global cricketing community.
‘A New Birthday for Pakistan’s Cricket’
For many cricket fans in Pakistan, the return of a global tournament is a deeply emotional moment.
Seventy-seven-year-old businessman Haji Abdul Razzak, who witnessed Sri Lanka’s victory in the 1996 Cricket World Cup final in Lahore, is among those who cherish the sport’s return.
“It is fresh in my mind,” said a teary-eyed Razzak. “My country was thriving back then, and cricket was on everyone’s mind. Terrorism took everything away from us. I am overjoyed to see a global event coming back to our country. It feels like my birthday.”
Although security threats persist, particularly in remote border areas, Pakistan has demonstrated its capability to host major international events. The country recently staged a tri-series featuring New Zealand and South Africa, with enthusiastic crowds filling the renovated stadiums in Karachi and Lahore.
More Than Just a Cricket Tournament
Beyond the sport, the Champions Trophy is a crucial step in re-establishing Pakistan’s standing in the global cricketing community, said Ramiz Raja.
“This Champions Trophy is a crucial step toward normalizing Pakistan’s place in international cricket,” he stated. “It’s also about national pride, youth engagement, cultural promotion, and building a strong global image.”
With the tournament set to kick off on Wednesday, cricket fans in Pakistan and across the world will be closely watching, hopeful that the event will mark a new era for cricket in the country.
