Pakistan is ready to host his first major international cricket council (ICC) tournament for almost three decades, with over 13,000 police personnel deployed in the cities of Lahore and Rawal Pindi for security.
The event, the ICC Champions Trophy, will be held from February 19 to March 9 and will take place in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi.
The implementation comes after many years of security concerns in the wake of a militant attack from 2009 on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, which led to international teams avoiding trips to Pakistan.
After the attack, Pakistan’s cricket scene fought to host international teams, but the situation began to improve in 2019 with the return of the Sri Lankan test team.
In the years ago, foreign players participated in Pakistan’s domestic T20 leagues and marked a slow but steady return of international cricket.
This year’s tournament will see Pakistan hosting eight teams, but India’s matches are held in the United Arab Emirates. India’s rejection of sending his team to Pakistan stems from his government’s security concerns.
To ensure the security of players, officials and fans, over 13,000 police officers will be vigilant during the matches in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
More than 8,000 officers will be awarded security tasks in Lahore, while more than 5,000 will be stationed in Rawalpindi. Senior officers, district superintendents, inspectors and female officers will all be part of the security force.
Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr. Usman Anwar declared that the police perform intelligence -based operations around the players’ homes and along holders to the stadiums.
Safe Cities Authority will monitor the area through cameras and secure security at stadiums, hotels and other venues. Police units will carry out regular patrols during the fighting, and snipers will be placed on tall buildings around stadiums to ensure additional protection.
Dr. Anwar assured the public that the authorities are obliged to provide a peaceful and safe environment for the tournament and encouraged fans to follow all security and security protocols.
The tournament is held across three venues: Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. Both Lahore and Karachi Stadiums have undergone extensive renovations to improve the viewing experience for spectators and improve television quality.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 marks Pakistan’s return to host great international cricket tournaments as it hosted the World Cup in 1996 with Sri Lanka and India.
As the country prepares for this milestone event, the authorities leave no stones to ensure the safety and smooth organization of the ICC masters trophy and send a message of resilience and commitment to the cricket world.
