Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 :Security Concerns Amid ISKP Threat
Pakistan is officially out of hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, raising serious security concerns, especially after reports surfaced about an alleged plot by Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) to kidnap foreign visitors attending the event. The Pakistan Intelligence Bureau (IB) has issued a high alert, warning about potential threats from terrorist organizations, including Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ISKP, and Balochistan-based militant groups. Reports indicate that ISKP plans to target Chinese and Arab nationals attending the tournament. The intelligence alert suggests that ISKP operatives have been conducting surveillance at airports, ports, offices, and residential areas commonly used by foreign visitors. The group reportedly aims to rent safe houses on the outskirts of cities, avoiding security cameras and choosing locations accessible only by rickshaws or motorcycles. Their strategy involves moving kidnapped individuals between safe houses at night to evade detection.
Pakistan has a long history of security concerns regarding international sporting events. The most infamous incident occurred in 2009 when the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked in Lahore, leading to Pakistan’s exclusion from hosting major international cricket events for nearly a decade. The Pakistani government has assured that stringent security measures have been put in place for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Reports state that around 12,000 police officers and security personnel will be deployed in Lahore and
Rawalpindi, including 18 senior officers, 54 DSPs (Deputy Superintendents of Police), 135 inspectors, 1,200 upper subordinates, 10,556 constables, Over 200 female police officers. Additionally, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has arranged special chartered flights through Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to ensure secure transportation for teams and high-profile guests. Amid rising security concerns, the Indian government decided not to send its cricket team to Pakistan. As a result, all of India’s matches are being played in Dubai. The final match of the tournament is also expected to be played outside of Pakistan if India fails to qualify. Pakistan’s security challenges stem from a long-standing struggle with terrorist organizations like the TTP and ISKP. Formed in 2007, the TTP has engaged in violent insurgency operations against the Pakistani state for over a decade. Their key demands include:
- Strict implementation of Islamic law
- Release of imprisoned members
- Reversal of the merger of Pakistan’s tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, TTP-related violence in Pakistan has escalated. According to reports, nearly 2,526 people were killed in terror attacks in 2023, including: 700 security personnel, 900 civilians and 900 militants. The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in Islamabad described 2023 as the deadliest year for Pakistan since 2016, with rising terror attacks across the country. ISKP has long condemned cricket as a tool of “Western intellectual warfare.” In 2024, the ISKP-affiliated Al Azaim Media released a 19-minute video criticizing the sport, claiming that it promotes nationalism and distracts from jihadist ideology. The group also criticized the Taliban for supporting Afghanistan’s national cricket team. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 highlights Pakistan’s ongoing security challenges, especially with terrorist groups actively planning attacks. The country’s ability to provide adequate protection for foreign players and visitors remains questionable, particularly given its history of terror attacks and the ISI’s alleged ties to militant groups. While authorities have pledged high-level security, the threat of terrorism continues to cast a shadow over international events hosted in Pakistan.
But, should Pakistan be trusted for the security of those foreign nationals? Pakistani ISI being one of the most well-known supporters of terrorism, will it be able to provide the required security?
