Pakistan On High Alert After Terrorist Attack Threat In ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Because of the potential for a terrorist attack during the ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistan has been placed on high alert. The competition is Pakistan's first hosting of an ICC event since the World Cup in 1996. Pakistan lost to New Zealand in the inaugural match in Karachi on February 19, marking the start of the competition.

Reports state that several extremist organizations, such as ISIS, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and other groups located in Balochistan, have been threatened with kidnapping foreigners attending the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

PCB forced to accept Hybrid Model

Notably, the PCB was forced to accept the hybrid arrangement, with India's matches being held in Dubai after India had previously expressed worries about security problems in Pakistan and declined to tour the nation.

Since the 2008 Asia Cup, India has not traveled to Pakistan due to the Mumbai terror attack. Because of the Indian team's worries, the 2023 Asia Cup was even contested in a hybrid format.

Plot of terrorist attack, kidnapping of foreign nationals by terror outfits revealed

There have been reports suggesting that terrorist attacks could strike the current Champions Trophy in Pakistan. CNN-News18 reports that Pakistan's intelligence agency has warned security personnel about a potential plan against foreigners in the Champions Trophy by issuing a high alert.

According to reports, the alert lists a number of terrorist organizations active in Pakistan, such as ISIS, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and other organizations with bases in Balochistan.

Reports state that the kidnapping of international tourists for ransom is part of the purported terror plot. According to reports, the Pakistani security services have responded by increasing team and player protection.

The main targets of recent attacks by TTP, ISKP, and Balochistan-based terror groups have been foreigners, especially Chinese citizens working on China-backed, state-run projects in Pakistan, even though cricket has frequently been stopped by such terror threat alerts.

Host country issues high alert over kidnapping plot targeting foreign guests at #ICCChampionsTrophy 2025 by extremist groups like TTP, ISIS#ChampionsTrophy2025 https://t.co/tqC2Gu7Ipp pic.twitter.com/IWQKM8WJd5

— The Telegraph (@ttindia) February 24, 2025

For the first time since the Cricket World Cup in 1996, Pakistan is hosting an ICC competition in ICC Champions Trophy 2025. After the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus in Lahore, international cricket had vanished entirely from Pakistan.

Nonetheless, the ICC granted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) the hosting rights for the 2025 Champions Trophy, demonstrating the success of their attempts to revive cricket in the nation.

Pakistan cricket and terrorist attacks

According to the Associated Press, New Zealand called off its cricket visit to Pakistan in September 2021 due to concerns about an incident outside Rawalpindi Stadium. The government of New Zealand had issued the warning.

The tour was called off by New Zealand just before the one-day international series in Rawalpindi began. Following an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in 2009, international matches in Pakistan were suspended for ten years.

Another tour to New Zealand was canceled in 2002 due to a suicide blast near the Pearl Continental Hotel in Karachi. The hotel was then housing the New Zealand and Pakistani teams.

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