Individuals with their cellphones take photographs of the ICC Champions trophy, throughout a ceremony on the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium in Peshawar, Pakistan, February 6, 2025. — Reuters
ISLAMABAD: Cricket followers in Pakistan are buzzing forward of the Champions Trophy and internet hosting the elite one-day worldwide event will rekindle the nation’s love affair with the game, three former captains mentioned.
The occasion, which options the game’s high eight sides within the ODI format, begins on Wednesday with the hosts up in opposition to New Zealand in Karachi.
It will likely be the primary main world event hosted by Pakistan in almost 30 years and former batting nice Inzamam Ul Haq informed Reuters there was no escaping the thrill within the lead-up to the occasion.
“Right now everyone is talking about the Champions Trophy, in schools, houses, markets, offices, everywhere,” he added.
Pakistan spent almost a decade within the wilderness after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket staff’s bus in Lahore in 2009, wounding six gamers.
Prime groups shunned Pakistan after the 2009 assault and it took the Pakistan Cricket Board years to persuade overseas counterparts that it was protected to go to.
“The events of 2009 feel like a bad dream,” Inzamam mentioned. “We were punished for 10 years. Our cricket went backwards.”
The nationwide staff, captained for the majority of these years by Misbah Ul Haq, hosted its ‘house’ video games within the United Arab Emirates and remained comparatively profitable till fixtures trickled again onto Pakistani soil in 2018.
“For fans and young cricketers to see the stars playing live is a big deal,” mentioned Misbah, Pakistan’s most profitable check captain. “Not having that meant the whole cricket machinery was jammed.”
Former captain Aamer Sohail mentioned the connection between followers and gamers was evident at Wednesday’s warm-up sport in opposition to South Africa the place Pakistan reeled within the guests’ 352 to finish their highest profitable ODI run chase.
“What was heartening in yesterday’s game is that people turned up and then the players turned up. It was kind of reciprocating, wasn’t it?” added Sohail.
The Champions Trophy was discontinued by the Worldwide Cricket Council after the eighth version in 2017, when Sarfaraz Ahmed’s Pakistan beat India within the closing.
Ought to each groups attain the title decider when it returns to the calendar, Pakistan is not going to have the benefit of taking part in at house as India are taking part in all their matches in Dubai because of political tensions.
“A Pakistan-India match is not just a game of cricket, it’s a game of expectations, of emotions,” mentioned Misbah.
Inzamam recalled a 2004 ODI in opposition to India in Karachi the place he scored an exhilarating hundred in a dropping chase.
“I got a standing ovation but so did the Indian team for their performance,” he mentioned. “Supporters from both sides would have wanted to see this match.”
Sohail will ceaselessly be remembered for some of the well-known on-field spats with Indian bowler Venkatesh Prasad within the 1996 World Cup quarter-finals, the final main occasion performed in Pakistan.
“It’s not just important for both the countries, I think this rivalry is important for international cricket,” he mentioned.
