Champions Trophy 2025: Gaddafi Stadium basks in the moment as ICC event makes long-awaited return
Champions Trophy 2025: Gaddafi Stadium basks in the moment as ICC event makes long-awaited return
A serpentine queue outside the stadium, fans waving flags of their respective teams and chanting the names of their favourite cricketers are common sights across the globe.
As one stood outside the Gaddafi Stadium on a warm Saturday afternoon, amid a sea of crowd, it indeed felt like a home game for Pakistan.
With several spectators donning the national colours, and some even coming in the retro jersey of the 1992 World Cup side, it was difficult to believe that not Pakistan, but England and Australia were actually locking horns at a packed venue, which was hosting an ICC event after nearly three decades.
“We are here to enjoy good cricket,” said Tariq, a young fan from the city, as he walked towards the Imtiaz Ahmed enclosure with his friends, after crossing several layers of security.
Tariq wasn’t born when the World Cup final was held here in 1996 and Sri Lanka went on to clinch the title, beating Australia. He wants Australia to edge past England and start its Champions Trophy campaign with a win, though his friends were divided in their opinions.
A few of them rooted for England, while some were indecisive. “We haven’t seen an ICC event here, and now that we have an opportunity, we want to bask in the moment,” said Salman, one of Tariq’s friend from college.
As the gang of boys walked past the huge posters featuring pictures of all the captains of the eight participating teams, one of them said with a wry smile, “ yaar, Pakistan ka match hota toh aur mazaa aa jaata…”
With a global event returning to this part of the world after a long hiatus, the tickets for the Australia-England game were sold out shortly after they were put up for sale, and as several spectators pointed out, they couldn’t miss out on watching “two of the biggest teams of the world in action…”
And, inside the stadium premises, it indeed felt like a celebration of the game, with fans cheering for the two teams and some popular Hindi songs, including Husn Tera Tauba being played on the loudspeakers to entertain the crowd.
Though India is playing its games in Dubai, the Indian national anthem suddenly rang out from the public announcement system at the start of the play, surprising everyone. The error was quickly rectified and Australia’s anthem was played.
The PCB, later clarified, that it was a ‘stuff up‘ on the part of the ICC as it had control over the playlist. The matter has been taken up with the ICC.
As the action got underway and Ben Duckett guided England to a mammoth total, the fans braved the scorching sun and kept cheering for the teams throughout, marking the return of a global event at home.
Published on Feb 22, 2025
