The cricket chief of Pakistan hopes that next week’s Champions Trophy will become the first major multi-country cricket event in nearly three decades to pave the way for more similar tournaments.
The 2009 Lahore attack on a Sri Lankan cricket team bus resulted in top cricket teams avoiding Pakistan which led them to shift their home games predominantly to the UAE.
The Pakistan Cricket Board spent several years persuading international cricket organizations about the security of visiting the country. The cricket board managed to stage its own T20 league with foreign players participating on home ground which resulted in touring teams returning to Pakistan in 2017.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced to Reuters that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 represents the achievements of their persistent efforts.
By successfully hosting this event Pakistan will boost its reputation as a leading candidate for future ICC tournaments during the next cycle.
The country organized the 1996 World Cup after winning the previous World Cup edition but faced declining fortunes due to rising militancy after war in neighboring Afghanistan.
Naqvi stated that visiting teams no longer worry about security because Pakistan proves it can maintain a secure and well-managed environment for international cricket.
It secured ICC recognition for its capability to host international events through successful home international series and consistent world-class PSL editions.
All major Test-playing nations except India have visited Pakistan since 2019 for tours with some countries making multiple trips.
Naqvi indicated that the repeated tours of England and New Zealand along with the increasing presence of international players in the PSL served as a formal approval. These teams already know about Pakistan’s excellent playing conditions together with its operational standards and security protocols.
He admitted that organizing an event with multiple teams was more challenging than organizing one with just a single team.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 required extensive preparations within a short timeframe which presented a monumental task. The stadiums experienced their most recent major renovations during the lead-up to the 1996 World Cup and have since observed extensive changes in global cricket.
The PCB implemented last-minute upgrades to the two primary stadiums in Karachi and Lahore to prepare for the event.