Pakistan's security arrangements for Champions Trophy under scanner once again after multiple blasts on Friday

Pakistan’s security arrangements for the ICC Champions Trophy have come under the scanner once again after two separate blasts took place in the country on Friday. The country is hosting a global event for the first time in nearly three decades and had assured the ICC as well as participating teams – except India – of providing adequate security cover for the Champions Trophy to go ahead without a hitch.

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Friday’s twin blasts, however, have put the Mohsin Naqvi-led Pakistan Cricket Board as well as the Shehbaz Sharif-led government in a difficult spot once again and might create a sense of unease among the visiting teams, especially teams such as New Zealand that have qualified for the semi-finals that will be taking place next week.

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At least three persons were killed while 20 were left injured in an attack that took place at a mosque in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Among those killed in the explosion at the Darul Uloom Haqqania in Nowshera district was a cleric believed to be closed to the Taliban.

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Another blast had taken place in Quetta, Balochistan in the western part of the country that left at least 10 injured, according to Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune.

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Here’s how social media reacted to Friday’s terror attacks that have heightened security concerns in Pakistan amid a major cricketing event:

Bomb blast at Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunwala. The blast happened at a Masjid and killed 5 people there.
Khyber Pakhtunwala is just 250 km away from Rawalpindi, just 4 hours drive away.
But Pakistan is safe place for Champions Trophy. ICC must think before choosing a place to…

— AKTK (@AKTKbasics) February 28, 2025

“Terrorism is not something that is being conducted in dark corners of Pakistan. It's done in broad daylight” said the Indian External Affairs ministers a while ago. This blast in the several terror laboratories of Pakistan https://t.co/V6zeaq9GBE

— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) February 28, 2025

BIG BREAKING NEWS 🚨 B0mb blast in Pakistan amidst Champions Trophy Match.

At Least 5 Killed, Several Injured in Blast at Pro-Taliban Seminary Near Peshawar.

All Players of all countries are worried.

Due to security reasons only, India refused to play in Pakistan and its… pic.twitter.com/aZNnctspcN

— Hrithik Chaurasia (@hhrithikk) February 28, 2025

Pakistan: At Least 5 Killed, Several Injured In Blast At Pro-Taliban Seminary Near Peshawar..
Blast Reported At Haqqania Madrassa in Akora Khattak Nowshera.
The suicide blast comes at a time when Pakistan is hosting the ICC Champions Trophy.#Noshehra #Blast #Peshawar pic.twitter.com/nckYQ0Snau

— Kapadia CP (@Ckant72) February 28, 2025

Suicide blast in Pakistan during Friday prayers at Khyber Pakhtun Khwa.
Good that India put its foot down on not playing in Pakistan for CT 25. It would have been much better if other teams had supported India and got CT shifted entirely out of Pakistan.

— Good Governance 🇮🇳 (@sri9011) February 28, 2025

The PCB and the ICC are yet to officially react to the incidents, and none of the participating teams have officially expressed any concern over the matter.

The Champions Trophy matches are taking place in the cities of Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi, with two-time winners India playing all of their games in Dubai after refusing to visit Pakistan due to security concerns.