Why Pakistan hosting the Champions Trophy is not just about cricket

It almost felt like Pakistan’s opportunity to host an international cricket tournament wasjinxed.

Pakistan lost its chance in 2008 when it was locked in an existential battle with militants. Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, and the West Indies raised security concerns and the Champions Trophy was postponed just 19 days before it was due to begin. But the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore sealed Pakistan’s international sports isolation; ESPN described it as “Cricket’s darkest day”.

Fast forward to 2024, up until last November, Pakistan’s prospects were still in doubt. India refused to travel to Pakistan, ticket sales were chaotic, accreditation for foreign journalists was tightly controlled, the pre-tournament hype was tepid and it was a race against time to get the stadiums ready.

But the moment is here: just as the bat needs to hit perfectly on the ball’s downswing, Pakistan needs this tournament more than the cup. The Champions Trophy is not just about cricket.

'Presidential-style' security

Despite international teams tentatively returning to Pakistan in recent years - Australia, England, and New Zealand have played full series - the pressure remains high.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and law enforcement agencies’ security plan is not just presidential, it's royal. In this case, it helps that the interior minister and the PCB chairperson are the same.

Teams have been assigned security liaison officers, stadiums are swept by security personnel before the public arrives, while roads are cleared as the teams travel from the hotel to matches and practices. With 20,000 troops deployed in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad, it almost feels like the “presidential-style” security is a message of insecurity.

What Pakistan really needs is a perception of safety, which will only happen once the event is over and ends with discussions of Babar Azam as an opener rather than a law and order incident.

Indeed, the levels of security almost match that of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in Islamabad last October. Sure, the likes of Karachi and Lahore may not be in complete lockdown, but the safeguards are also a measure of diplomatic significance and optics.

“The return of global cricket is not just about hosting matches,” said PCB chief and interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, “It is about restoring pride.”

Reframing Pakistan’s image

Cricket has long been entwined with South Asian diplomacy, and Pakistan’s hosting of the Champions Trophy places it at the heart of cricketing geopolitics.

The elephant in the room is, of course, India. The Indians refused to come to Pakistan, so Pakistan had to be satisfied with the small but symbolic win of the Indian cricket team wearing the Pakistan flag on team jerseys as the host nation.

As diplomatic engagements go, these tactics are indicative of India’s broader refusal to meaningfully engage with Pakistan beyond a few crumbs.

Another small win for Pakistan was when Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar participated in the SCO summit. FM Jaishankar is not above using cricket analogy to describe India’s strategy in relation to Pakistan. But cricket isn’t just a metaphor when it's also a foreign policy tool.

Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach will also extend beyond India - Western cricketing nations that once hesitated to tour will closely watch how the government manages security and logistics.

Moreover, a read of which foreign journalists have been granted visas - 30 from Bangladesh, eight from England, seven from India, two from Sri Lanka, and one from Australia - demonstrates a cautious opening up. In particular, the warming ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. It’s as if Pakistan got out of the East what it wanted in the West (read: Afghanistan) through a friendly government.

Ultimately, a successful tournament could reframe Pakistan’s image, reinforcing its narrative of resilience and stability, necessary for its economy to level up from stable to investment-friendly.

The ODI format is a test match

Beyond international diplomacy, the Champions Trophy arrives at a politically cool time for Pakistan. Key cases against Imran Khan have been adjourned, while the threat of protests has, for now, been laid to rest, after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s failed attempt on November 26.

Other potential threats which challenge the stability the government is trying to project are either in the periphery (such as Balochistan or Kurram), or from disunited civil society groups (such as lawyers and journalists). Not to mention that media and audience interest has shifted to batting line-ups rather than police line-ups.

With Ramzan and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) around the corner, cricket could serve as a rare moment of unity - where the roar of the crowd drowns out the discord of politics.

Mohsin Naqvi is right, the return of a major ICC event to Pakistan is a moment of pride. Above all, the government has breathing room but needs to score boundaries on security, diplomatic agility, and internal stability.