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Pakistan has been rocked by a suicide bomb blast amidst the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan faces a heightened security concern following a recent bomb blast in Pakistan's Akora Khattak district, located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Reportedly, five people have been killed and dozens are injured following the fatal blast. This incident has cast a shadow over the tournament, which marks the first major ICC event to be held in Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup.
Suicide bomb blast in Pakistan amidst Champions Trophy
The PCB had initially designated Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi as the venues for the eight-team Champions Trophy. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declined to send the Indian national team to Pakistan. After extensive negotiations, the PCB ultimately agreed to a hybrid model for the tournament, accommodating India's concerns.
As part of the hybrid arrangement for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India will play all of its matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, ensuring they do not compete on Pakistani soil. This decision continues the trend of the Indian men's team not touring Pakistan for cricket since the 2008 Asia Cup. In a reciprocal arrangement, Pakistan was required to travel to Dubai for their match against India.
Adding to the security concerns surrounding the tournament, a suicide bomb explosion occurred on Friday, February 28 at a pro-Taliban seminary in Akora Khattak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This tragic incident resulted in at least five fatalities and numerous injuries. Local police officials confirmed that the explosion took place shortly before the commencement of Ramadan.
The proximity of the bomb blast location, approximately 600 kilometers from Lahore, where a Champions Trophy match between Afghanistan and Australia was being played, has heightened anxieties about the security protocols in place for the tournament. This incident has reignited concerns regarding the safety of visiting international cricketers in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi took to X to condemn the bomb blast and expressed his condolences to the aggrieved families.
"Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the blast at Darul Uloom Haqqania Akora Khattak Jamia Mosque, expressed deep sorrow and regret over the loss of precious human lives in the blast. [He] extends heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of the martyrs, prays for the speedy recovery of the injured, including Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq Haqqani,” he said on X.
Talking about Pakistan's team's performance, they are already eliminated from the tournament. Their last league-stage match against Bangladesh was called off due to persistent rain which tagged an embarrassing record to Men in Green's name. Pakistan, who lost back-to-back matches against New Zealand and India, became the first team in the history of Champions Trophy to sign off the tournament without winning a single game being a host.
