PCB assures players, officials' safety top priority after spectator enters field

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a serious notice of a security breach during an ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match between New Zealand and Bangladesh on Monday, when a spectator entered the field.

“Ensuring the safety of players and officials remains our top priority,” the PCB said in a statement, adding, “As a responsible organisation, we have engaged with local security agencies, who have committed to increasing security personnel around the field of play at all venues and strengthening access control measures.”

The individual involved was arrested and presented before a court of law on Tuesday, it said, adding, “In addition, he has been permanently banned from entering all cricket venues in Pakistan.”

To prevent such incidents in the future, the PCB is “working closely with security agencies and venue authorities to review and reinforce security protocols”.

Meanwhile, the interior ministry and law enforcement agencies are now conducting urgent security drills and revising protocols to prevent further lapses in upcoming matches.

The Rawalpindi police and stadium security personnel failed to intercept the spectator, who waved a picture of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has called for an investigation and an urgent review of security protocols to prevent such incidents in future matches.

Pakistan has implemented an elaborate security plan for the Champions Trophy, with over 10,000 security personnel deployed across Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi. However, the breach at Rawalpindi Stadium has exposed a lapse in the execution of these plans. The ICC has officially demanded an inquiry, pressing the PCB and security agencies to tighten security protocols.