Karachi: After nearly three decades, international cricket’s biggest tournament has finally returned to Pakistan. The long-anticipated moment will materialize when Pakistan faces New Zealand in the Champions Trophy opener at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday.
The excitement is undeniable—Karachi’s streets are decorated with Champions Trophy branding, the stadium is lit up in vibrant green and blue, and President Asif Ali Zardari is set to attend the grand opening match.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has assured that “Pakistan is fully prepared for the Champions Trophy.” However, for many cricket fans, this feels surreal.
“If someone had told me in 2015 that England and Australia would tour Pakistan, I would have laughed,” said cricket enthusiast Mohammad Abdullah. “When Pakistan was announced as the Champions Trophy host, I expected it to be canceled. This is already a victory for Pakistan.”
Pakistan has fought a long battle to reclaim its status as a safe venue for international cricket. After the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, Pakistan lost the rights to host the 2009 Champions Trophy and the 2011 Cricket World Cup. The country’s stadiums remained empty for years.
The revival began with Zimbabwe’s 2015 tour, followed by the success of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which reassured international teams about security arrangements. “Convincing teams to visit Pakistan was a major challenge, but PSL played a crucial role,” said former PCB Chairman Najam Sethi.
Now, 16 years after that tragic incident, international teams have returned, and Pakistan has upgraded its stadiums for the Champions Trophy. The Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB completed ambitious renovations of Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi’s National Stadium in just over 100 days.
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif believes this tournament is a chance to showcase Pakistan’s capability as a world-class host. “Pakistan has proven itself as a great host before and will do so again in the Champions Trophy,” he said.
Despite hosting the event, Pakistan will not play a single group match on home soil. Due to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, the PCB had to relocate its matches to Dubai under the controversial “hybrid model.”
Former ICC President and ex-PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani criticized this decision. “The ICC should have ensured that the entire tournament was held in Pakistan,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that India’s refusal affected the tournament structure. However, hosting an ICC event remains a huge achievement for Pakistan.”
Pakistan’s hosting of the Champions Trophy has sparked reactions in India, with many media outlets criticizing Pakistan’s preparedness. Even the tournament logo, which features Pakistan’s name as the host, has drawn outrage across the border.
Despite these tensions, Najam Sethi remains optimistic about the future of India-Pakistan cricket relations. “I believe that sooner or later, the two countries will resume bilateral cricket ties. All that’s needed is a diplomatic thaw,” he said.
While Pakistan has excelled in organizing the event, their performance on the field remains a concern. Under Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy, the team has struggled in recent matches, raising doubts about their ability to compete against tournament favorites India and New Zealand.
Former cricketer Rashid Latif emphasized the importance of on-field success. “The PCB has done a great job organizing the event, but Pakistan needs to make an impact by winning matches—and hopefully the title,” he noted.
Regardless of the challenges, the Champions Trophy’s return is a landmark moment for Pakistan.
“Hosting a global tournament like this is a celebration of Pakistan’s place in world cricket,” said ex-PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja. “This is our chance to make a statement. We must be impeccable in our execution and presentation. Most importantly, we should enjoy and cherish this moment.”
