New Delhi: The Champions Trophy 2025 was hosted by Pakistan, marking the country’s return to organizing an ICC event after nearly 29 years. However, due to security concerns, the Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, played its matches in Dubai under the hybrid model. The tournament saw Pakistan’s early exit, with the team, captained by Mohammad Rizwan, failing to progress beyond the first round. Additionally, severe weather conditions further complicated the tournament in Pakistan. Despite these challenges, Pakistani cricket experts claimed that hosting the event in their country was a success.
Terror Attack Before South Africa vs. New Zealand Semifinal
Just before the South Africa vs. New Zealand semifinal, cricket analyst and writer Omar Alvi made a shocking revelation. He reported that a terrorist attack took place in Bannu, Pakistan ahead of the crucial knockout match. The semifinal was scheduled to be played in Lahore, and fortunately, it proceeded without any disruptions.
Omar Alvi emphasized that despite security concerns, Pakistan successfully hosted the Champions Trophy without any major incident directly affecting the matches. However, the attack in Bannu once again raised serious concerns about the security situation in the country.
Did Players Face Challenges in Pakistan?
The Champions Trophy matches were held across three cities in Pakistan:
Karachi
Lahore
Rawalpindi
To ensure the safety of participating teams, around 16,000 police officers were deployed. However, despite heavy security arrangements, several players faced difficulties during their stay in Pakistan.
Captains like Steve Smith (Australia), Temba Bavuma (South Africa), and Mitchell Santner (New Zealand) shared their experiences, highlighting the challenges of playing in Pakistan. They mentioned that moving around in Dubai was far easier, while in Pakistan, security restrictions made their stay more challenging.
The Champions Trophy 2025 was a milestone event for Pakistan, but security concerns remained a major issue. The terror attack in Bannu before a crucial semifinal raised questions about the safety of international teams in Pakistan. Although the tournament concluded without any major incidents affecting the matches, concerns over player safety and security continue to be a talking point in world cricket.