Pakistan’s hopes of hosting the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have been severely affected by a recent terror attack in Karachi. A deadly explosion near Jinnah International Airport on Sunday night (October 6) left two Chinese nationals dead and over 10 others injured. The blast, which targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a power project, is being seen as a significant blow to Pakistan’s chances of successfully hosting the mega cricketing event next year.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had been working tirelessly to ensure that the country remains safe and stable in the lead-up to the ICC Champions Trophy, which was scheduled for February-March 2025. However, this latest “terrorist attack” could seriously jeopardize Pakistan’s chances of hosting top cricketing nations, with India’s participation now hanging in the balance.
The explosion, reportedly a suicide attack carried out by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), targeted Chinese engineers involved in a critical power project in Sindh province. The BLA’s Majeed Brigade has claimed responsibility for the attack, further complicating the situation. The Chinese embassy in Pakistan condemned the incident, vowing to “severely punish the murderer” responsible for the attack, while reiterating their concern over Chinese nationals’ safety in the country.
#WATCH | At least three foreign nationals died while 17 others sustained injuries in a huge explosion near Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, reports Pakistan’s Geo News.
(Video: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/qrJdStV9F7
— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2024
The attack comes at a time when security in Pakistan is under intense scrutiny, with the PCB under pressure to guarantee the safety of international players and officials ahead of the Champions Trophy.
India’s reluctance to send its cricket team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy has already been a point of contention, and this latest incident seems to have further sealed the Men in Blue’s fate. While seven other participating nations had given the green light to travel to Pakistan, India’s government is now unlikely to clear the team’s participation given the current security concerns.
The terror attack is expected to prompt other cricket boards to reconsider their decision to send their teams to Pakistan, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) likely to address the issue in its next meeting. The PCB now faces an uphill task of convincing international boards about the safety and security of players, with the future of Pakistan as a host for the Champions Trophy hanging in the balance.
The PCB has yet to issue a statement on the attack’s impact on their hosting rights for the Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, the England cricket team, already in Pakistan for a Test series, remains unaffected by the blast, though the incident has undoubtedly raised questions about future international events in the country. The coming weeks will be critical for the PCB as it navigates the challenges posed by the latest terror attack and the global response to it.
