Pakistan authorities will leave nothing to chance while providing state-head level security to all the seven teams during the Champions Trophy, using the country's military as the main force, a senior security official from the Pakistan interior ministry told Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net).
Pakistan has been volatile in terms of security with problems from neighbouring Afghanistan and the troubled province of Balochistan.
We are using a three-layer security for the teams with Police as the first layer followed by Rangers (also part of the military) and then military as the final layer so that nothing is left to chance.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed the authorities to make the stay of teams comfortable and secure.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi is also the Interior Minister of the country and has been holding meetings with the security agencies and putting in place excellent arrangements.
The federal cabinet has permitted PCB to use the military as per the requirement in the country's constitution.
The eight-nation event will be held from February 19 to March 9 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. India will be playing all their matches in the UAE. One semi-final will be held in Dubai and in case India reach the final it will be held in Dubai, otherwise in Lahore.
The Indian team would have needed or demanded more security so that factor is not required. Their security arrangements are made by the authorities in Dubai.
Around 5,000 policemen will be used in and around the hotels at each of the three venues -- Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi - with all the hotels also being cordoned off during the stay of the teams.
The route to the stadium and back to the hotel will be heavily guarded, official said. There will be thorough check-ups of the visitors to the teams' hotel which will be kept very minimal. Only those staying in the hotel or their guests will be allowed to visit the place.
This has become necessary following the attack on the Sri Lanka team bus while travelling to the Gaddafi Stadium for the third day's play in the second Test in Lahore. Six members of the Sri Lanka national cricket team were wounded and six Pakistani policemen and two civilians were killed.
Thus, for the Champions Trophy 2025, the authorities are also handling with caution any political unrest caused by protests of the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) headed by former Pakistan captain Imran Khan.
Imran is currently in jail on corruption charges. He has directed his party workers to hold protest rallies against national elections held last year, which PTI alleges were rigged.
No political protest will be allowed during the Champions Trophy. This has been conveyed to the PTI and its hierarchy. Any protest will be handled with iron hand.
Foreign teams had refused to travel to Pakistan between 2009 to 2015 following attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus.
With improved security, international cricket fully returned to Pakistan in 2020. Since then New Zealand (four times), England (thrice), South Africa, and Australia have toured the country without any problems.
