 "Pakistan's crucial international cricket home season 2024-25 starts with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. AP")
Pakistan have won all but one of their 13 Test matches against Bangladesh, but their upcoming two-match series against the Tigers will be an acid test — not on the pitch, but off it. The next few months and the upcoming international matches in Pakistan are going to be crucial as the country prepares to host its first ICC tournament since the 1996 World Cup.
The Champions Trophy is scheduled for February-March next year, and before that, Pakistan will play seven Tests and at least two ODIs against teams like Bangladesh, England, West Indies, New Zealand, and South Africa. These matches are scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi, Multan, and Karachi.
While the schedule for the Champions Trophy is still not out, the majority of matches are expected to be held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi, National Stadium in Karachi, and Multan Cricket Stadium. Currently, most of these venues are undergoing renovation, with the Pakistan Cricket Board spending Rs 12.8 billion to upgrade them to international standards.
This also forced the PCB to shift the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh from Karachi to Rawalpindi due to the ongoing renovation work.
PCB chairman chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s recent comments gave a good idea about how challenging the job is.
“There was a world of difference between our stadiums and those in the rest of the world. In no way were they international stadiums —Koi bhi stadiums internationally qualify kar hi nahi sakta hain. Na seats the, na bathrooms, aur view aisa tha ki app 500 metre door se dekh rahe hain (None of them could qualify as international by any standard. There weren’t enough seats or bathrooms and the view made it seem like you were watching from 500 metres away),” Mohsin told Pakistan media recently.
The upcoming home matches will give Pakistan a good chance to test their renovation work, while also posing a challenge to their progress.
Another factor that will be in focus during the upcoming international games at home is the security arrangements. Pakistan, a fractured nation, is often torn between politics, civil unrest, and military action. The PCB cannot control the peace situation in the country, and any major security problem could lead to the cancellation of matches or the shifting of games to other countries.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAfter the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore in 2009, international cricket did not take place in the country for the next six years. Even after Zimbabwe toured in 2015, the return of major teams took a while.
Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali recently touched on this issue, warning that Pakistan could lose the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy if any major security incident occurs. He cited recent unrest in Balochistan and Peshawar, which resulted in a few soldiers being martyred, and stressed that the touring teams should receive Prime Minister-level security.
“Since the Champions Trophy is in Pakistan, and teams like England and West Indies are scheduled to tour after Bangladesh, we must pay attention to security. God forbid, the Champions Trophy won’t be played here if there is any incident in these tours. Our soldiers are getting martyred in Balochistan and Peshawar. Only the government can answer why it has been happening, but it’s wrong,” Ali said on YouTube.
“We must ensure that there is not even a small security breach. The foreign teams should get the same security as our Prime Minister and President. I am sure Mohsin Naqvi will be aware of these things,” he added.
Successfully overcoming these challenges will strengthen Pakistan’s claim to host the Champions Trophy entirely within the country, even though it seems highly unlikely with India unwilling to travel to their neighbouring nation. The last time India refused to travel to Pakistan, the PCB had to share the 2023 Asia Cup hosting rights with Sri Lanka. They may be forced to do so again during the Champions Trophy. However, if Pakistan manage to provide world-class stadiums and assure other teams of top-notch security, it will not only enhance Pakistan’s image in international cricket and attract more major teams in the future, but it will also significantly benefit their cricket economy.