Pakistan has a proud history in cricket and has hosted many international events. However, the timeline of tournaments in Pakistan shows both good and challenging times. Let’s look at when Pakistan last hosted an ICC tournament and what lies ahead.
Pakistan’s Last ICC Tournament Hosting: The 1996 Cricket World Cup
The last ICC tournament hosted by Pakistan was the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1996. Pakistan co-hosted the event with India and Sri Lanka. The final match took place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where Sri Lanka defeated Australia by seven wickets to win their first World Cup title.
Unfortunately, Pakistan’s journey in that tournament ended earlier than fans hoped. The team was knocked out in the quarter-finals after losing to India in Bengaluru.
A Difficult Phase for Pakistan Cricket
After the 1996 World Cup, Pakistan hosted another multi-nation tournament in 2008, the Asia Cup. In the final, Sri Lanka defeated India by 100 runs to lift the trophy.
However, cricket in Pakistan faced a major setback in 2009. During Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan, their team bus was attacked in Lahore. Several players were injured in the incident, leading to international teams avoiding Pakistan for many years. For almost a decade, the country could not host major international cricket matches.
Cricket’s Return to Pakistan
Efforts to bring cricket back to Pakistan began in 2015 when Zimbabwe visited for a series. In 2017, Sri Lanka returned to Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, marking another step toward normalcy. Gradually, teams like Australia, New Zealand, England, and South Africa also played in Pakistan. These tours helped rebuild trust and brought international cricket back to the country.
ICC Champions Trophy 2017: A Memorable Win
Although Pakistan did not host the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, the event remains a proud moment in its cricket history. The tournament, held in England, ended with Pakistan defeating India by 180 runs in the final to win the trophy.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Cricket Returns to Pakistan
After nearly three decades, Pakistan will host an ICC tournament again. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be held across Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai. This tournament will feature eight teams divided into two groups.
Group A includes defending champions Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. Group B consists of England, Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan. The competition begins on February 19, 2025, with Pakistan as one of the co-hosts.
Check out the Champions Trophy Schedule, Champions Trophy Squads , Champions Trophy Venues & Champions Trophy Latest News here!