Injury to Rachin Ravindra Raises Concerns
During a recent ODI match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, cricketer Rachin Ravindra was injured when he failed to see the ball due to the glare of the stadium’s floodlights. The injury left him bloodied, sparking a lot of debate about the safety of the lighting at the venue.
Disagreement Over the Cause of the Injury
While some members of Pakistan’s cricketing community acknowledge that the LED floodlights at the stadium might be a problem, others, including former captain Salman Butt, dismissed the claims. Butt argued that the lights were working fine when players hit sixes, and suggested Rachin’s injury was due to a misjudgment or a slip, not the lights.
Floodlight Problems During Other Matches
The issue with floodlights is not unique to the New Zealand-Pakistan game. In another ODI between India and England, a floodlight failure caused a temporary pause in the match. Despite these incidents, some Pakistan news channels believe that minor issues like this are not big problems and should not be blown out of proportion.
Concerns Over Pakistan’s Ability to Host Major Tournaments
Not everyone agrees that Pakistan is ready to host prestigious events like the Champions Trophy. Former cricketer Tanvir Ahmed pointed out that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) struggles to maintain stadiums and lacks sufficient funds for major events.
A Glare Issue with the Floodlights
Some cricketers have raised concerns that the placement of floodlights at Gaddafi Stadium might be causing the problem. Shoaib Mohammad, son of cricket legend Hanif Mohammad, noticed that even Daryl Mitchell from New Zealand had trouble seeing the ball before Rachin’s injury. He suggested that the floodlights’ positioning could be causing a glare that affects players’ vision, making it hard to spot the ball.
