Despite challenges such as rain-abandoned matches, fan disinterest following Pakistan’s early exit from the Champions Trophy, and high spending on stadium upgrades, experts consider the event a success. Hosted under a hybrid model due to India’s security concerns, it allowed Pakistan to showcase its security capabilities without any incidents. While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) aimed for a world-class event rather than profits, ticket refunds from washouts are expected to impact finances negatively. Critics argue that the focus on stadiums over cricket might have been misplaced. Ultimately, hosting could pave the way for more international events if India agrees to play there again.
Even with three Champions Trophy matches in the country being canceled due to rain, dwindling fan interest following the national team’s early exit, considerable expenses for stadium renovations, a hybrid hosting model, and strict security protocols, experts in Pakistan still view the marquee event as a success that could pave the way for more international competitions. The Champions Trophy was hosted in Pakistan under a hybrid model after India opted not to send its team due to security issues, choosing instead to play all its matches in Dubai.
While cricket enthusiasts in Pakistan missed the opportunity to witness the fierce rivalry in one of the three upgraded venues, they faced a major disappointment when Mohammad Rizwan’s team was eliminated early after defeats against New Zealand and India.
On the bright side, Pakistan made significant strides in security, as the event proceeded without a single security breach.
“This is the reality for Pakistan cricket. Considering we had another terrorist incident in Bannu just a day before the semifinal (between South Africa and New Zealand) in Lahore, we should be grateful for hosting such a significant event without any issues,” commented cricket analyst and writer, Omair Alavi.
To ensure the safety of the visiting teams in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, Pakistan deployed around 16,000 police and paramilitary forces. While Australia captain Steve Smith, South Africa’s Temba Bavuma, and New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner noted their sense of ease in Dubai compared to the heavy security they experienced in Pakistan, Dave Musker, ICC’s safety and security manager, labeled the event a “success.”
“The coordination and professionalism displayed by the security forces were commendable, and I would classify it as a successful event,” Musker stated in Lahore.
Another security expert, Sohail Khan, remarked that due to the heightened focus on security arrangements, there was no margin for error.
“I believe Pakistan did well to host the event without any incidents. The eyes of the world were on our security personnel during the tournament, and they met the expectations,” said Khan, who has considerable experience with security matters and previously traveled to India to facilitate Pakistan’s tour in 2005.
In 2009, the Sri Lankan cricket team faced a terrorist attack in Lahore, effectively isolating Pakistan cricket for nearly nine years.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Imran Jamil, who oversaw security in Karachi during the Champions Trophy, mentioned their attempts to accommodate the requests of teams and players to create a more relaxed atmosphere.
“However, we had a responsibility that needed to be addressed as well,” he added.
While the security aspect was a triumph, the Pakistan Cricket Board also identified several positives, even with the team’s early exit.
“It was disappointing that our team underperformed, which naturally affected interest in later matches. However, everything else proceeded smoothly,” a PCB official stated on the condition of anonymity.
“Our primary objective was not to generate profit but to deliver a world-class event, and we succeeded in that,” he asserted.
The PCB’s finances may take a hit due to three matches being abandoned, with two of those in Rawalpindi occurring without a ball being bowled.
The PCB is set to receive USD 600,000 in hosting fees, along with a share of ticket revenue, hospitality box sales, and some sponsorships at the venue. However, due to the two washouts, the board will need to refund ticket purchasers, which will impact their earnings.
Alavi expressed doubt that the PCB would be able to recover the billions of rupees it spent on upgrading the stadiums through hosting rights and other types of revenue.
“As for Pakistan’s share from ICC revenues, that is secured even if we hadn’t hosted the event,” he noted. Currently, the PCB receives about USD 32 million annually from ICC event revenues affecting all member boards.
However, with the Pakistan team’s poor performance, some former players are questioning the necessity of the expenditure of 1.8 billion Pak rupees for stadium upgrades.
“There seemed to be more emphasis on the stadium enhancements rather than the cricket itself,” remarked former Test bowler Sikander Bakht.
“Our stadiums were adequate; they just required some modernization. Those funds could have been utilized to build a new stadium in Islamabad or revamp smaller venues such as Faisalabad, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Sialkot, etc.,” he suggested.
Former Test cricketer Iqbal Qasim believed the desire to showcase Pakistan’s cricket facilities globally compelled the investment in renovations.
“We might have aimed to convey to the world that Pakistan boasts world-class facilities for hosting international events, but the arrangements at the Gaddafi Stadium to manage adverse weather during the Australia-Afghanistan match didn’t project the right image,” he concluded.
The match had to be canceled due to rain after Afghanistan scored 273 runs in their 50 overs while batting first, with Australia managing to face only 12.5 overs for a score of 109/1.
Arif Ali Khan Abbasi, a notable figure in Pakistan cricket, believes the Champions Trophy will benefit the PCB with the opportunity to host more international events, but the impact on the board’s financial health will depend on whether India agrees to play in the country.
“Until we can persuade the Indian team to participate in Pakistan for even ICC or Asian-level matches and put an end to this hybrid scheduling, we won’t truly gain financially… which means inadequate funds to enhance our domestic infrastructure,” he emphasized.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article