ISLAMABAD: Over 12,000 police personnel will be deployed in the cities of Lahore and Rawalpindi as Pakistan stages its first major International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament in nearly three decades from Feb. 19, police said on Monday.
A 2009 militant attack on the Sri Lanka team in the eastern city of Lahore led to international teams avoiding tours to Pakistan for almost a decade because of security concerns. The Sri Lankan test team returned in 2019 as international cricket made slow inroads back and foreign players were drafted for a men’s T20 domestic cricket league held annually in Pakistan.
Later this week, Pakistan will host the eight-team ICC Champions Trophy in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. However, arch-rival India’s matches will take place in the United Arab Emirates after its government refused to give permission for the squad to travel to Pakistan.
“For the Lahore and Rawalpindi matches, over 12,000 police officers and personnel will perform security duties,” a Punjab police spokesperson said in a statement. “More than 8,000 officers and personnel will perform security duties in Lahore and more than 5,000 in Rawalpindi.”
Senior officers, district superintendents of police, inspectors and women police personnel would be on duty for the series.
The statement quoted Punjab Inspector General of Police, Dr. Usman Anwar, as saying police were carrying out intelligence-based operations around the residences of players and team routes to stadiums, while Safe Cities Authority cameras would monitor these areas as well as stadiums and hotels.
Various police units would carry out patrols during the matches, with snipers stationed on tall buildings around the stadiums, Anwar added.
“We will ensure the organization of international matches in a peaceful and secure environment,” he added, calling on fans to follow police instructions on security and safety protocols.
The tournament will take place from Feb. 19 to Mar. 9 across three venues: Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. The Lahore and Karachi stadiums have recently reopened after extensive renovations to enhance broadcast quality and spectator comfort.
Pakistan won the Champions Trophy in 2017, defeating India by 180 runs in a one-sided final.
Pakistan’s last ICC event was when it co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with Sri Lanka and India.
