'Pakistan Punished for 10 Years': Inzamam Ul Haq Recalls Sri Lanka Terror Attack and a Haunting Memory. (Twitter/AP)
Pakistan will host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in three cities over the next two-and-a-half weeks but this time it is more than just cricket for the Asian giants. If authorities can pull it off smoothly and safely, then it will be a big step towards convincing the world that Pakistan is a safe country.
The last multi-team global event hosted by Pakistan was the 1996 Cricket Wills World Cup, with India and Sri Lanka being the co-hosts.
However, Pakistan’s reputation as a host nation suffered a massive setback in 2009 when a terrorist attack on the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team changed the course of the country’s cricketing history.
The country became a no-go zone for international sides after Islamist gunmen attacked a bus carrying Sri Lanka's team in Lahore, wounding several players and killing eight policemen and civilians.
Reflecting on the devastating impact of the attack, former Pakistan captain Inzamam Ul Haq said, "Right now, everyone is talking about the Champions Trophy in schools, houses, markets, offices, everywhere. The events of 2009 feel like a bad dream. We were punished for 10 years. Our cricket went backwards," he told Reuters.
"Seeing the stars playing live is a big deal for fans and young cricketers. Not having that meant the whole cricket machinery was jammed. A Pakistan-India match is not just a game of cricket, it's a game of expectations, of emotions," added another former Pakistan captain Misbah-Ul-Haq.
Test cricket returned to Pakistan in 2019, and Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa later toured the country, helping the country's bid to host the tournament.
Those teams will all be in Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.
Champions Trophy Groups
Group A: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand
Group B: Afghanistan, Australia, England, South Africa
ICC Champions Trophy schedule
Group A
February 19: Pakistan vs New Zealand (Karachi)
February 20: Bangladesh vs India (Dubai)
February 23: Pakistan vs India (Dubai)
February 24: Bangladesh vs New Zealand (Rawalpindi)
February 27: Pakistan vs Bangladesh (Rawalpindi)
March 2: New Zealand vs India (Dubai)
Group B
February 21: Afghanistan vs South Africa (Karachi)
February 22: Australia vs England (Lahore)
February 25: Australia vs South Africa (Rawalpindi)
February 26: Afghanistan vs England (Lahore)
February 28: Afghanistan vs Australia (Lahore)
Mar 1: South Africa vs England (Karachi)
Semi-finals
March 4: Semi-final -, A1 v B2 (Dubai)
March 5: Semi-final 2 - A2 v B1 (Lahore)
Final - March 9: Final (Lahore or Dubai)
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