ICC delegation briefed on teams’ security at Champions Trophy

ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) delegation Thursday received an in-depth briefing on the security measures to be adopted for the visiting teams/officials during the forthcoming Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in Pakistan in February 2025.

The briefing was conducted by officials of the Ministry of Interior with all the concerned agencies’ representatives giving their input as to what measures will be in place for the visiting team to make their stay, travelling from hotels to stadium comfortable and secure.

‘The News’ has learnt that the five-member ICC delegation comprising Sarah Edgar (Senior Manager Events), Aun Muhammad Zaidi (Event manager and CT25 Event Head), Wasim Khan (ICC GM Cricket), David Musker (Security Manager) and Mansoor Manj (ICC Broadcast Consultant) were briefed as what measures are in place for the mega event.

The delegation was reminded of the security measures adopted for all the visiting cricket teams during the last eight years with utmost success. The visiting international cricket teams have been extended VVIP protocol and security only meant for the foreign high-level dignitaries.

“The briefing focused on the measures to be adopted for all foreign teams during their forthcoming trip to Pakistan and what measures were in place in recent times for the teams that played Test and white-ball series in Pakistan.”

Earlier, the visiting delegation accompanied by PCB officials Usman Wahla, Col. Khalid and Salman Masood accompanied the team to Pindi Stadium, one of the three venues where the Champions Trophy matches are to be played.

The delegates were briefed on the facilities available for players, spectators, and media persons who are expected to travel from across the world to cover the mega event. The delegation was also updated on the renovation work planned at the venue.

The PCB has already decided to make minimum changes in the facilities already available at the Pindi Stadium. Permanent chairs will be installed in all the enclosures with hospitality boxes to be raised on either side of the Media Box before the start of the Champions Trophy.

The Media Box at the stadium has already been given a fresh look a couple of years back. The Media Box at the Pindi Stadium provides the best facilities as compared to international standards and in some cases even better to what we find elsewhere.

Later the ICC delegation visited a local hotel where the visiting teams are expected to stay during the Champions Trophy engagements. The hotel management also gave a briefing to the delegations as to what facilities it offers to the visiting teams and officials.