Over 13,000 police personnel to be deployed for ICC Champions Trophy
Listen to article
Pakistan is set to host its first major International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament in nearly three decades, with over 13,000 police personnel deployed across the cities of Lahore and Rawalpindi 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 deployment comes after years of security concerns in the wake of a 2009 militant attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, which led to international teams avoiding tours to Pakistan.
Following the attack, Pakistan's cricket scene struggled to host international teams, but the situation began to improve in 2019 with the return of the Sri Lankan Test team.
In the years since, foreign players have participated in Pakistan's domestic T20 leagues, marking a slow but steady return of international cricket.
This year's tournament will see Pakistan hosting eight teams, but India's matches will be held in the United Arab Emirates. India's refusal to send its team to Pakistan stems from its government's security concerns.
To ensure the safety of players, officials, and fans, over 13,000 police officers will be on duty during the matches in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
More than 8,000 officers will be assigned to security tasks in Lahore, while more than 5,000 will be stationed in Rawalpindi. Senior officers, district superintendents, inspectors, and women officers will all be part of the security force.
Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar stated that the police are conducting intelligence-based operations around the players' residences and along team routes to the stadiums.
The Safe Cities Authority will monitor the area through cameras, ensuring security at stadiums, hotels, and other venues. Police units will conduct regular patrols during the matches, and snipers will be positioned on tall buildings around stadiums to ensure additional protection.
Dr Anwar assured the public that the authorities are committed to providing a peaceful and secure environment for the tournament, urging fans to follow all security and safety protocols.
The tournament will be hosted across three venues: Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. Both Lahore and Karachi stadiums have undergone extensive renovations to enhance the viewing experience for spectators and improve broadcast quality.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will mark Pakistan's return to hosting major international cricket tournaments since it co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with Sri Lanka and India.
As the country prepares for this milestone event, authorities are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the safety and smooth organisation of the ICC Champions Trophy, sending a message of resilience and commitment to the world of cricket.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Argentina not overly reliant on Messi, says Scaloni
Argentina have learned to cope with Lionel Messi's absences and no longer need to rejig the line-up when the Inter Miami forward is not available, manager Lionel Scaloni said ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Colombia. Since making his senior debut in 2005, Messi has scored 112 goals in 192 appearances for Argentina, winning the World Cup in 2022, two Copa America titles and a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The 37-year-old captain missed Argentina's 1-0 win over Uruguay and 4-1 thrashing of rivals Brazil in March due to injury, with Scaloni's side securing their place at the 2026 World Cup during that international break. He returned to the squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers and made a substitute appearance in Argentina's 1-0 win over Chile last week. 'The team is now in a moment where it can play in the same way with Leo (Messi) or without Leo, which used to be more complex in the past as we had to change some players,' Scaloni told reporters ahead of the match in Buenos Aires. 'But now we don't have this necessity and the team works in the same way, that's good.' While Argentina have already qualified for the World Cup in North America, Colombia are in the sixth and final automatic qualification spot and will be looking to put some distance between themselves and seventh-placed Venezuela with a win. World Cup dream is still alive despite loss to Belgium, Wales manager Bellamy says Colombia beat Argentina 2-1 when the sides last met in the World Cup qualifiers in September. 'It's a great team, and with great players, and it has a clear style that can put you in trouble,' Scaloni said. 'We've analysed it, we've shown the players their strengths and what we want to take advantage of. It's going to be a nice game, especially because we play at home, so it's good for our people to see the players.'
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Business Recorder
World Cup dream is still alive despite loss to Belgium, Wales manager Bellamy says
BRUSSELS: Wales manager Craig Bellamy said his side are still on track to qualify for the World Cup despite slipping from top spot in their group following a 4-3 defeat in Belgium on Monday. The clash in Brussels would have been marked down as Wales' toughest test in Group J and it looked like the writing was on the wall when they were three goals down inside the first half-hour. But Bellamy's side fought back to level at 3-3 and looked good for a surprise point before Kevin De Bruyne snatched a late winner for the hosts. 'To come to a top-eight team and play the way we want to play. I think the Belgian players saw it as well,' said Bellamy, who lost his first game as Wales manager after 10 matches in charge. 'We aren't going anywhere. I will have a couple of weeks now of recharging, but I'm beyond proud and really excited about the future.' Wales have seven points from four matches in their group and are at the halfway stage of their campaign. North Macedonia top the standings with eight points, but Belgium, on four points, have played only two fixtures. The group winner qualifies automatically for next year's finals in North America, while the runners-up go into a playoff competition. Wales next travel to fourth-placed Kazakhstan in September and then have a return clash with the Belgians in Cardiff in October. Sorba Thomas, who scored his first international goal for Wales on Monday, said their second-half performance showed what kind of a team they are. Portugal's emotional Ronaldo rejoices in winning Nations League 'Even though we lost the game, I feel like we won it in our own heads,' he added. 'Against countries like this, you'll be punished. I can't wait to play these when we get back to Cardiff.' Wales reached the quarter-final of the 1958 World Cup and did not qualify again until the last finals in Qatar in 2022, where they finished bottom of their group.
Express Tribune
15 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Mbappe fires France to Nations League bronze
France forward and captain Kylian Mbappe was the difference in Sunday's 2-0 win over Germany in Stuttgart. Photo: AFP Kylian Mbappe bagged a goal and an assist as France beat Germany 2-0 in the Nations League bronze-medal match in Stuttgart on Sunday. Mbappe wove his magic in a heavily changed France squad. Germany dominated the opening half but Mbappe provided the breakthrough just before half-time, carving a shot through a crowded penalty box to bring up his 50th goal in France colours. Late in the second, with the hosts desperately looking for an equaliser, Mbappe snatched a poor Germany pass on the half-way line and rampaged forward, before setting up Michael Olise. Mbappe had not scored in open play for France for more than a year. After the match, the France captain hit back at criticism levelled against him, telling DAZN "since I arrived in the international team, everyone always talks about me.... when they have an opportunity to talk bad, they talk bad. "They did it with all the great players in history in France and I'm the next. But I'm OK with that. I just try and do my job." France and Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni praised his club and international teammate Mbappe, saying "everyone in the team loves him. "He's a very important player for us and when he plays like he did today, it's just amazing." For Germany, who lost two straight straight matches for the first time since 2023, questions remain over how much they have truly improved under Julian Nagelsmann. Striker Niclas Fuellkrug lamented his side's wastefulness, telling DAZN: "if we had taken our first chance and scored, it could have been three or four nil for us." In the lead-up to Sunday's encounter, France coach Didier Deschamps admitted the Nations League clash with old rivals Germany "isn't the most important game for us," with a clear focus on next year's World Cup. Deschamps made eight changes from the semi-final loss to Spain, with only captain Mbappe, goalie Mike Maignan and midfield veteran Adrien Rabiot keeping their starting spots. Nagelsmann also rotated heavily, making four changes including bringing Fuellkrug back into the starting XI. The Germans had a wealth of chances in the opening half. Karim Adeyemi won a penalty but it was overturned by VAR for diving. Florian Wirtz hit the post. Mbappe struck just before half-time. The Real Madrid man collected a pass which floated over Joshua Kimmich's head, took a touch and hammered a shot home with his preferred right foot.
