Pakistan is expected to organize its first major international tournament Cricket Council (ICC) in almost three decades, with more than 13,000 police officers deployed in 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 problems following a 2009 militant attack on the Sri-Lankan cricket team in Lahore, which led international teams to avoid tours in Pakistan.
After the attack, the Pakistan cricket scene struggled to welcome international teams, but the situation began to improve in 2019 with the return of the Sri Lankan test team.
In the years that followed, foreign players participated in the interior T20 leagues in Pakistan, marking a slow but regular return of international cricket.
This year’s tournament will see Pakistan welcome eight teams, but India matches will take place in the United Arab Emirates. The refusal of India to send his team to Pakistan stems from the security problems of his government.
To ensure the safety of players, officials and fans, more than 13,000 police officers will be in service 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. Higher officers, district superintendents, inspectors and women officers will all be part of the security force.
Punjab inspector general of the police, Dr. Usman Anwar said that the police are conducting intelligence operations around players’ residences and along team roads to stadiums.
Safe Cities Authority will monitor the region through cameras, ensuring security in stadiums, hotels and other sites. The police units will perform regular patrols during the matches, and the snipers will be positioned on large buildings around the stadiums to ensure additional protection.
Dr. Anwar assured the public that the authorities have committed to providing a peaceful and secure environment for the tournament, urging fans to follow all security and security protocols.
The tournament will be organized on three sites: Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. The Lahore and Karachi stadiums have undergone in -depth renovations to improve the visualization experience of spectators and improve the quality of diffusion.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will mark the return of Pakistan to the organization of major international cricket tournaments since it co-organized the 1996 World Cup with Sri Lanka and India.
While the country is preparing for this spreading event, the authorities leave no non -returned stone to ensure the safety and organization of the ICC champions trophy, sending a message of resilience and engagement in the world of cricket.