Karachi: It will be the first major global tournament hosted by Pakistan in nearly 30 years and former batting great Inzamamul Haq told Reuters, there was no escaping the excitement in the lead-up to the event.

“Right now everyone is talking about the Champions Trophy, in schools, houses, markets, offices, everywhere,” he added. “The events of 2009 feel like a bad dream,” Inzamam said. “We were punished for 10 years. Our cricket went backwards.” Inzamam recalled a 2004 ODI against India in Karachi where he scored a thrilling hundred in a losing chase. “I got a standing ovation but so did the Indian team for their performance,” he said. “Supporters from both sides would have wanted to see this match.” “For fans and young cricketers to see the stars playing live is a big deal,” said Misbah, Pakistan’s most successful test captain. “Not having that meant the whole cricket machinery was jammed.”

“A Pakistan-India match is not just a game of cricket, it’s a game of expectations, of emotions,” Misbah said. Former captain Aamer Sohail said the connection between fans and players was evident at Wednesday’s warm-up game against South Africa where Pakistan reeled in the visitors’ 352 to complete their highest successful ODI run chase. “What was heartening in yesterday’s game is that people turned up and then the players turned up. It was kind of reciprocating, wasn’t it?” added Sohail.

The Champions Trophy was discontinued by the International Cricket Council after the eighth edition in 2017, when Sarfaraz Ahmed’s Pakistan beat India in the final.