Pakistan will take the field on Wednesday, hoping to get their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign to a winning start. Pakistan, who organizes the tournament that the Indian matches are retaining (to play in Dubai), was beaten last week by the kiwis in the final of a Tri-Nations series, at the same location. Pakistan last organized an ICC event in 1996, the ODI World Cup next to India and Sri Lanka. However, the event has a great meaning for Pakistan. If everything goes according to plan, then it is a big step in the direction of convincing the world that Pakistan is a safe place to play cricket.
The 2009 terror attack on the bus of the Sri Lanka team in Lahore changes the course of the cricket history of Pakistan. For years, Pakistan played their home games in the VAE, because teams refused to visit the country after what happened on that day in Lahore.
While the nation is getting ready to organize the Champions trophy, former Pakistani captain Sendamam-Ul-Haq opened the consequences of the attack.
“At the moment everyone talks about the Champions trophy in schools, houses, markets, offices, everywhere. The events of 2009 feel like a bad dream. We were punished for 10 years. Our cricket was deteriorated,” Zakamam told Reuters.
“Seeing the stars that play live is a big problem for fans and young cricketers. That did not mean that the entire cricket machines were held. A Pakistan-India match is not just a game of cricket, it's a game of expectations, of emotions, “He added.
Eight people were killed and more than 20 others, including different Sri Lankan players, wounded when more than a dozen terrorists attracted the motorcade of the Lankan team in an ambush in the busy freedom travel round near the Gaddafi stadium on the third day of The second test against Pakistan on March 3, 2009.
Lankan players Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana, Suranga Lakmal and Thilina Thushara were injured in the attack.
Despite all this, the decision was made to play the next game in Lahore. The competition started, but the first two days mainly saw action on the ground with some political disruption and Sri Lanka collected a huge total of more than 600 runs.
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