ISLAMABAD – After a long wait, Pakistan is finally ready to host the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy 2025. The country is buzzing with excitement as eight teams from around the world come together for a major cricketing event, marking the return of international cricket to Pakistan after three decades.
The last time Pakistan hosted a men’s Cricket World Cup was in 1996, under the banner of the International Cricket Council. Since then, the country has been deprived of the opportunity to showcase its love for the sport on a global stage.
The Champions Trophy, scheduled to take place from February 27 to March 9, will see teams from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa compete over a period of almost three weeks. This is a momentous occasion for Pakistani cricket fans, who have been eagerly waiting for this event.
The tournament will be held in three stadiums across Pakistan, with the exception of matches involving India, which will be played in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This decision was made by the Indian cricket board, citing security concerns as the reason for not sending their team to Pakistan.
However, despite this setback, the enthusiasm and excitement surrounding the event in Pakistan remain unmatched. The country’s cricket team will kick off the series by playing against New Zealand in Karachi, the country’s biggest metropolis.
The return of international cricket to Pakistan is a significant milestone for the nation, which has faced a drought of the sport since the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan national team in Lahore. The tragic incident resulted in the injury of six players and the loss of lives of six Pakistani police officers and two passersby. As a result, Pakistan was unable to host the 2009 Champions Trophy and the 2011 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
However, in recent years, Pakistan has made significant efforts to revive international cricket in the country. The return of Zimbabwe’s cricket team in 2015 marked the first step towards this goal. Since then, several major foreign teams have played in Pakistan, including Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Bangladesh.
For the nation of cricket lovers, the opportunity to attend a major event at home after more than a decade is nothing short of a dream come true. Fans have been eagerly purchasing tickets, with some even traveling from other cities to witness the matches live.
“It’s the biggest event for us since 2009, so we are very excited,” said Mohsin Ali, a cricket fan who paid just over $10 for a ticket to see Pakistan play against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, near the capital city of Islamabad.
Ubaid Hassan, a captain of the cricket team in his village, recalls how as a child, he would watch Pakistani cricket matches on TV since international teams refused to play in the country. Now, he has tickets to two matches and is ecstatic to finally witness international cricket being played in his home country.
The security situation in Pakistan remains a concern, with near-daily militant attacks in some parts of the country. However, the provinces of Punjab and Sindh, where the matches will be played, have been relatively peaceful. To ensure the safety of players and spectators, the Pakistani government has deployed almost 20,000 police officials and personnel across the three cities where the matches will be held. Snipers have also been positioned on buildings surrounding the stadiums, and paramilitary troops and the military will be on standby in case of any security emergencies.
Players from all teams will receive state guest-level security, with heavy police presence at their hotels and their travel routes cleared of all traffic. Only personnel with security clearance will be allowed to interact with them.
Muhammad Waqas, deputy inspector general of operations for the Punjab police, emphasized the importance of providing a safe and secure environment for the event. He stated, “Even the slightest administrative lapse will cause embarrassment at a very large level, and if we do a good job and manage things efficiently, the same positive impression will go to a billion odd people. That is why it’s extremely important and is being planned and monitored at the highest level.”
Fans coming to the stadium will also go through several layers of security, including metal detectors and pat-downs. Each ticket bears the name and national identity card number of the buyer, ensuring that only authorized individuals are allowed entry.
The arrival of foreign teams for the Champions Trophy is not only a significant moment for Pakistani cricket fans but also for the country’s
