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Arab News
17-02-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Champions Trophy will rekindle Pakistan's love of cricket, say former captains
ISLAMABAD: Cricket fans in Pakistan are buzzing ahead of the Champions Trophy and hosting the elite one-day international tournament will rekindle the country's love affair with the sport, three former captains said. The event, which features the sport's top eight sides in the ODI format, begins on Wednesday with the hosts up against New Zealand in Karachi. It will be the first major global tournament hosted by Pakistan in nearly 30 years and former batting great Inzamam Ul Haq told Reuters there was no escaping the excitement in the lead-up to the event. 'Right now everyone is talking about the Champions Trophy, in schools, houses, markets, offices, everywhere,' he added. Pakistan spent nearly a decade in the wilderness after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus in Lahore in 2009, wounding six players. Top teams shunned Pakistan after the 2009 attack and it took the Pakistan Cricket Board years to convince foreign counterparts that it was safe to visit. 'The events of 2009 feel like a bad dream,' Inzamam said. 'We were punished for 10 years. Our cricket went backwards.' The national team, captained for the bulk of those years by Misbah Ul Haq, hosted its 'home' games in the United Arab Emirates and remained relatively successful until fixtures trickled back onto Pakistani soil in 2018. 'For fans and young cricketers to see the stars playing live is a big deal,' said Misbah, Pakistan's most successful test captain. 'Not having that meant the whole cricket machinery was jammed.' Former captain Aamer Sohail said the connection between fans and players was evident at Wednesday's warm-up game against South Africa where Pakistan reeled in the visitors' 352 to complete their highest successful 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 International Cricket Council after the eighth edition in 2017, when Sarfaraz Ahmed's Pakistan beat India in the final. Should both teams reach the title decider when it returns to the calendar, Pakistan will not have the advantage of playing at home as India are playing all their matches in Dubai due to political tensions. 'A Pakistan-India match is not just a game of cricket, it's a game of expectations, of emotions,' said Misbah. Inzamam recalled a 2004 ODI against India in Karachi where he scored a thrilling hundred in a losing chase. 'I got a standing ovation but so did the Indian team for their performance,' he said. 'Supporters from both sides would have wanted to see this match.' Sohail will forever be remembered for one of the most famous on-field spats with Indian bowler Venkatesh Prasad in the 1996 World Cup quarter-finals, the last major event played in Pakistan. 'It's not just important for both the countries, I think this rivalry is important for international cricket,' he said.
Express Tribune
17-02-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Former captains confident Champions Trophy will revive Pakistan's love for cricket
Listen to article Pakistan's cricket fans are abuzz with excitement as the country prepares to host its first major global tournament in nearly 30 years, with former captains believing the Champions Trophy will reignite the nation's passion for the sport. The eight-team ODI tournament begins on Wednesday in Karachi, where hosts Pakistan face New Zealand in the opening match. The competition marks a significant moment for the country, which has struggled to bring international cricket back after teams stopped touring following the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team's bus in Lahore. "Right now, everyone is talking about the Champions Trophy— in schools, houses, markets, offices, everywhere," former batting great Inzamam-ul-Haq told Reuters . Pakistan was forced to play its home matches in the United Arab Emirates for nearly a decade, with international teams hesitant to visit. "The events of 2009 feel like a bad dream," Inzamam said. "We were punished for 10 years. Our cricket went backwards." While international fixtures began returning in 2018, former captain Misbah-ul-Haq noted that an entire generation of fans missed out on watching top players live. "For fans and young cricketers to see the stars playing live is a big deal," said Misbah, Pakistan's most successful Test captain. "Not having that meant the whole cricket machinery was jammed." Former opener Aamer Sohail said the connection between fans and players was clear during Wednesday's warm-up match against South Africa, where Pakistan successfully chased 352 runs—its highest-ever 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?" Sohail said. The Champions Trophy was discontinued after 2017, when Pakistan defeated India in the final. Now, as the tournament returns, fans hope to see another high-stakes Pakistan-India clash. However, due to political tensions, India will play all their matches in Dubai, meaning a potential Pakistan-India final would not be held on Pakistani soil. "A Pakistan-India match is not just a game of cricket, it's a game of expectations, of emotions," said Misbah. Recalling a thrilling hundred against India in a 2004 ODI in Karachi, Inzamam said, "I got a standing ovation, but so did the Indian team for their performance. Supporters from both sides would have wanted to see this match." Sohail, who was involved in an infamous on-field spat with Indian bowler Venkatesh Prasad in the 1996 World Cup quarter-final, said the rivalry remains crucial for the game. "It's not just important for both countries, I think this rivalry is important for international cricket," he said.
Al Jazeera
17-02-2025
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan's ‘punishment' ends as cricket is back
Cricket fans in Pakistan are buzzing ahead of the International Cricket Council's (ICC's) Champions Trophy, and hosting the elite one-day international tournament will rekindle the country's love affair with the sport, three former captains say. The event, which features the sport's top eight sides in the ODI format, begins on Wednesday with the hosts up against New Zealand in Karachi. It will be the first major global tournament hosted by Pakistan in nearly 30 years, and former batting great Inzamam-ul-Haq told the Reuters news agency there is no escaping the excitement in the lead-up to the event. 'Right now, everyone is talking about the Champions Trophy – in schools, houses, markets, offices, everywhere,' he said. Pakistan spent nearly a decade in the wilderness after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus in Lahore in 2009, wounding six players. Top teams shunned Pakistan after the attack, and it took the Pakistan Cricket Board years to persuade their foreign counterparts that it was safe to visit. 'The events of 2009 feel like a bad dream,' Inzamam said. 'We were punished for 10 years. Our cricket went backwards.' The national team, captained for the bulk of those years by Misbah-ul-Haq, hosted its 'home' games in the United Arab Emirates and remained relatively successful. Fixtures then began trickling back onto Pakistani soil in 2018. 'For fans and young cricketers to see the stars playing live is a big deal,' said Misbah, Pakistan's most successful Test captain. 'Not having that meant the whole cricket machinery was jammed.' Former captain Aamer Sohail said the connection between fans and players was evident at Wednesday's warm-up game against South Africa when Pakistan reeled in the visitors' 352 to complete their highest successful ODI run chase. 'What was heartening in the game is that people turned up, and then the players turned up. It was kind of reciprocating, wasn't it?' Sohail added The Champions Trophy was discontinued by the ICC after the eighth edition in 2017 when Sarfaraz Ahmed's Pakistan beat India in the final. Should both teams reach the title decider this year, Pakistan will not have the advantage of playing at home because India are playing all their matches at this edition in Dubai due to political tensions. 'A Pakistan-India match is not just a game of cricket – it's a game of expectations, of emotions,' Misbah said. Inzamam recalled a 2004 ODI against India in Karachi, where he scored a thrilling hundred in a losing chase. 'I got a standing ovation, but so did the Indian team for their performance,' he said. 'Supporters from both sides would have wanted to see this match.' Sohail will forever be remembered for one of the most famous on-field spats with Indian bowler Venkatesh Prasad in the 1996 World Cup quarterfinals, the last major event played in Pakistan. 'It's not just important for both the countries. I think this rivalry is important for international cricket,' he said.
Khaleej Times
17-02-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Champions Trophy will rekindle Pakistan's love of cricket, say former captains
Cricket fans in Pakistan are buzzing ahead of the Champions Trophy and hosting the elite one-day international tournament will rekindle the country's love affair with the sport, three former captains said. The event, which features the sport's top eight sides in the ODI format, begins on Wednesday with the hosts up against New Zealand in Karachi. It will be the first major global tournament hosted by Pakistan in nearly 30 years and former batting great Inzamam Ul Haq told Reuters there was no escaping the excitement in the lead-up to the event. "Right now everyone is talking about the Champions Trophy, in schools, houses, markets, offices, everywhere," he added. Pakistan spent nearly a decade in the wilderness after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus in Lahore in 2009, wounding six players. Top teams shunned Pakistan after the 2009 attack and it took the Pakistan Cricket Board years to convince foreign counterparts that it was safe to visit. "The events of 2009 feel like a bad dream," Inzamam said. "We were punished for 10 years. Our cricket went backwards." The national team, captained for the bulk of those years by Misbah Ul Haq, hosted its 'home' games in the United Arab Emirates and remained relatively successful until fixtures trickled back onto Pakistani soil in 2018. "For fans and young cricketers to see the stars playing live is a big deal," said Misbah, Pakistan's most successful test captain. "Not having that meant the whole cricket machinery was jammed." Former captain Aamer Sohail said the connection between fans and players was evident at Wednesday's warm-up game against South Africa where Pakistan reeled in the visitors' 352 to complete their highest successful 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 International Cricket Council after the eighth edition in 2017, when Sarfaraz Ahmed's Pakistan beat India in the final. Should both teams reach the title decider when it returns to the calendar, Pakistan will not have the advantage of playing at home as India are playing all their matches in Dubai due to political tensions. "A Pakistan-India match is not just a game of cricket, it's a game of expectations, of emotions," said Misbah. Inzamam recalled a 2004 ODI against India in Karachi where he scored a thrilling hundred in a losing chase. "I got a standing ovation but so did the Indian team for their performance," he said. "Supporters from both sides would have wanted to see this match." Sohail will forever be remembered for one of the most famous on-field spats with Indian bowler Venkatesh Prasad in the 1996 World Cup quarter-finals, the last major event played in Pakistan. "It's not just important for both the countries, I think this rivalry is important for international cricket," he said.
Reuters
17-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Champions Trophy will rekindle Pakistan's love of cricket, say former captains
ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Cricket fans in Pakistan are buzzing ahead of the Champions Trophy and hosting the elite one-day international tournament will rekindle the country's love affair with the sport, three former captains said. The event, which features the sport's top eight sides in the ODI format, begins on Wednesday with the hosts up against New Zealand in Karachi. It will be the first major global tournament hosted by Pakistan in nearly 30 years and former batting great Inzamam Ul Haq told Reuters there was no escaping the excitement in the lead-up to the event. "Right now everyone is talking about the Champions Trophy, in schools, houses, markets, offices, everywhere," he added. Pakistan spent nearly a decade in the wilderness after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus in Lahore in 2009, wounding six players. Top teams shunned Pakistan after the 2009 attack and it took the Pakistan Cricket Board years to convince foreign counterparts that it was safe to visit. "The events of 2009 feel like a bad dream," Inzamam said. "We were punished for 10 years. Our cricket went backwards." The national team, captained for the bulk of those years by Misbah Ul Haq, hosted its 'home' games in the United Arab Emirates and remained relatively successful until fixtures trickled back onto Pakistani soil in 2018. "For fans and young cricketers to see the stars playing live is a big deal," said Misbah, Pakistan's most successful test captain. "Not having that meant the whole cricket machinery was jammed." Former captain Aamer Sohail said the connection between fans and players was evident at Wednesday's warm-up game against South Africa where Pakistan reeled in the visitors' 352 to complete their highest successful 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 International Cricket Council after the eighth edition in 2017, when Sarfaraz Ahmed's Pakistan beat India in the final. Should both teams reach the title decider when it returns to the calendar, Pakistan will not have the advantage of playing at home as India are playing all their matches in Dubai due to political tensions. "A Pakistan-India match is not just a game of cricket, it's a game of expectations, of emotions," said Misbah. Inzamam recalled a 2004 ODI against India in Karachi where he scored a thrilling hundred in a losing chase. "I got a standing ovation but so did the Indian team for their performance," he said. "Supporters from both sides would have wanted to see this match." Sohail will forever be remembered for one of the most famous on-field spats with Indian bowler Venkatesh Prasad in the 1996 World Cup quarter-finals, the last major event played in Pakistan. "It's not just important for both the countries, I think this rivalry is important for international cricket," he said.
