A powerful bomb blast that killed at least 30 people in a Shiite Muslim mosque in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar on Friday has marred what was to be a day of celebrations to mark a new beginning for Pakistan cricket. PM Imran Khan, who was on Friday originally scheduled to visit the cricket stadium in Rawalpindi on the opening day of Pakistan’s Test against Australia, around 180 km from the blast site, has strongly condemned the attack.

The security around the ground in Rawalpindi has been increased further in light of the incident. The Australian team’s security officials are liaising with the Department of Foreign Affairs and monitoring the situation, according to Australian media reports.

Tis is 185kms to west (not east as I said earlier)
Tragic but a local issue that should not concern the cricket series. https://t.co/7ultRKZXzJ

— Peter Lalor (@plalor) March 4, 2022

In Rawalpindi on Day 1 of the 1st Test, opening batter Imam-ul-Haq smashed a gritty unbeaten century and provided Pakistan with a solid start in its first home Test against Australia after a huge gap of 24 years. Left-handed Imam, preferred over Shan Masood, was unbeaten on 132 off 271 balls and his opening partner Abdullah Shafique was dismissed after amassing 44 runs as Pakistan reached 245-1 at stumps. 

On social media, Pakistan cricket fans were united in an outpouring of grief at this special day being marked with such a tragedy.

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“The Australian team has been granted the status of state guest,” Omer Saeed, City Police Officer for the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, had earlier said about the steps Pakistan have taken to ensure the security of the visiting Australian team.

The police officer added, “This status is only granted to world leaders or a PM or president coming from all over the world. The Australian team is coming after 24 years and it’s a great honor for us and a great honor for all Pakistanis that Australia has committed to sending its team and obviously, they are conscious of the security issues.”

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Following some tragically interrupted tours of Pakistan by teams such as New Zealand and Sri Lanka, who had to abort their trips midway due to such incidents, international cricket tours have eluded Pakistan over recent years for such security threats. West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Ireland are among the teams to have agreed to tour Pakistan in these years.