Pakistan has buried all the FEARS, ASPERSIONS, PROPAGANDA and DOUBTS over its readiness to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
With a colourful and lively inauguration ceremony of the Gaddafi Stadium on a pleasant Friday evening, Pakistan has shown the world that if there is a will, there is a way. The laser light show and firework enthralled a packed stadium, dosing the hatred and negative talk from across the border.
The crescendo reached the highest point as the prime minister took the podium and announced the opening of a new-look stadium. He very rightly praised the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi for not only taking the task of upgradation but also completing it with distinction.
“People used to call me Shehbaz speed (for his speedy work) but it has gone now. It is now the time of Mohsin speed,” remarked the PM. “We are ready to host an international event in a befitting manner and I am sure our team will lift the trophy to give the people of Pakistan joy and happiness.”
The second venue, the National Stadium, will be opened to the fans of Karachi on February 11 when President Asif Zardari will set the ball rolling. A new pavilion building adorns the stadium which will house both the teams and VVIPs during the Trophy matches.
Just four months of great perseverance, honesty and diligence have delivered the three venues. Without a doubt and flattery, Naqvi deserved most of the applause. He did not relent on the speed of the construction work, visiting the sites at 2 am or 5 am, in the afternoon and at night. Had he shown some negligence it would not have been possible.
Befittingly, Naqvi hosted a luncheon in honour of 1500 labourers which was not only a sign of kindness but acknowledgement of the round-the-clock work by them. The same should be done to the workers at the National Stadium.
The in charge of the project in Karachi, Bilal Chauhan, has stayed in the stadium during the construction work. His family must have forgotten his face!
Come February 19 the ribbon on the Champions trophy will be cut at the National Stadium with the opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand. It will be the first time in nearly three decades that Pakistan will be hosting an ICC event.
It would be a historic occasion. A generation of fans and players have missed an international event, the last of which was the World Cup in 1996. Pakistan had co-hosted that World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
It would not be wrong to say that Pakistan was abandoned by the cricketing world in the wake of the 9/11 attacks of 2001 on the United States. Those attacks started a war on terrorism in and around Pakistan, forcing international teams to refuse tours to Pakistan.
First, Pakistan was deprived of hosting the 2008 Champions Trophy. It was relocated to South Africa who hosted it a year later. Then, Pakistan was stripped of their share of matches in the 2011 World Cup. Pakistan was left isolated. But with improved security things changed and now Pakistan is hosting an international event.
Now the onus is on all of us. We must make this event a resounding success. All the relevant departments should not leave any stone unturned so that nothing untoward happens in this February 19-March 9 duration.
A safe and successful Champions Trophy will allow Pakistan to force the International Cricket Council to give them more international events. We deserve more events because not only we are a safe country, but also a very kind and decent hosts. Our hospitality is exemplary and the world should not be deprived of it.