Pakistan cricket fans and former players expressed frustration on Wednesday as the country’s disappointing Champions Trophy campaign ended with another setback: the final will not be held in Pakistan.
“It’s completely unfair,” said Moeed Ali Khan, a private car driver outside Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, where he had come to watch the second semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand. “I’m disgusted. Not only is our team out of the final, but the final isn’t even being held in Pakistan.”
The excitement began on February 19 when Pakistan hosted its first major international cricket tournament in three decades. However, the optimism quickly faded. The hosts lost their opening match to New Zealand, and their title defense ended with a heavy defeat to arch-rivals India. Their final group match against Bangladesh was washed out due to rain.
The final was initially scheduled to take place in Lahore, but with one major condition: it would not be held in Pakistan if India reached the title decider. India secured their spot in the final by defeating Australia in the first semi-final on Tuesday. India has refused to play in Pakistan due to political tensions, opting instead to play all their matches, including the semi-final, in Dubai. Consequently, the final will also be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan agreed to the hybrid hosting model on the condition that they would not send their team to India for future ICC events. This arrangement, which required other teams to travel between Pakistan and the UAE while India remained in Dubai, highlighted India’s significant influence in international cricket.
“We accepted this arrangement, so what’s the fuss?” asked Abdul Samad, a cricket fan. “When you lack power, you have to compromise, and that’s what Pakistan had to do. I have no regrets. Our team and cricket are lagging behind, so we had to make this compromise.”
However, not everyone in Pakistan shares this pragmatic view. Former captain Rashid Latif described the situation as a “double loss.” He told AFP, “Not hosting the final in Pakistan after such a heavy investment in upgrading venues is a blow. Pakistan is at its lowest level financially and in terms of team performance.”
Pakistan reportedly spent $16 million to upgrade venues in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. The country is expected to receive $6 million in hosting fees from the ICC. However, the early exit of the home team and lack of interest in the 50-over tournament could impact finances. Poor weather affected three matches in Pakistan, and empty seats were noticeable at several games.
“India has improved significantly, and that’s been evident in this tournament,” Latif said. “But politics has greatly diminished the spirit of cricket.” He added, “It would have been great if India had come to Pakistan and lifted the trophy in Lahore.”
Latif warned that the repercussions of split hosting arrangements could extend beyond the Champions Trophy. “This issue of one team refusing to visit another country, and Pakistan potentially not traveling to India in the future, will harm world cricket. It needs to be addressed quickly.”
