Pakistan Wear Pink for Breast Cancer Cause
Pakistan turned their tri-series match against England into a Pink Day for breast cancer awareness on Sunday, swapping their usual green kits for pink ones at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The whole ground went pink for the day, as the Pakistan Cricket Board marked its Breast Cancer Awareness Day during the fourth match of the ODI tri-series.
October is observed around the world as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The PCB organised the Pink Day fixture as part of its corporate social responsibility work, in partnership with the Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Trust Hospital.
Pakistan Pink Day Breast Cancer Awareness at Gaddafi Stadium
Every Pakistan player wore a specially designed pink jersey for the game. England players, match officials and commentators wore pink ribbons in a show of support for patients and survivors. The stumps were pink as well, and the big screens and LED boards around the ground carried awareness messages through the day.
The PCB also arranged free breast cancer screenings for fans from October 24 to 26 through its partnership with Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Trust Hospital. Fans could buy pink-themed merchandise through the PCB online store, with the money raised going towards treatment for patients who cannot afford it.
Signed shirts from Pakistan stars Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam went up for auction under the same cause, with the proceeds set aside for patients who need help with treatment costs.
PCB chief operating officer Sumair Ahmad Syed said the board recognised the responsibility that comes with the immense following cricket enjoys in the country. He said the Pink Ribbon initiative aimed to use international cricket to raise awareness about breast cancer and to highlight the importance of early detection and timely medical attention.
Match Context: Final Place on the Line
The Pink Day fixture was also a key match in the tri-series. Pakistan won the toss and chose to field, with a win enough to seal a place in the final on October 31. Pakistan had won their first two matches, beating Sri Lanka and England in Rawalpindi, while England had lost both of theirs.
Pakistan made two changes for the game. Shadab Khan returned after missing the first two matches, while Razaullah made his ODI debut. Naseem Shah missed out after dislocating a finger during the warm-up, and Faheem Ashraf made way. England gave a debut to Henry Crocombe in place of Josh Tongue, while Adil Rashid continued to sit out.
England arrived in Lahore after a painful defeat to Sri Lanka, in which they lost by two wickets despite posting 429 for four in Rawalpindi. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said Pakistan would aim to restrict England to around 250 to 260 runs rather than be distracted by their opponents’ ability to post huge totals.
In the same match, Shaheen reached a personal landmark of his own, becoming the fastest Pakistani fast bowler to 150 ODI wickets when he dismissed England opener Tom Banton early in the innings.
A Cause Pakistan Have Backed Before
This was not Pakistan’s first Pink Day. The team wore a special pink kit during a T20I series against South Africa last year, again in support of the Pink Ribbon campaign. The PCB has kept using international cricket as a platform for the cause, and Sunday’s fixture extended that work to the 50-over format.
Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers among women in Pakistan, and health workers stress that early detection saves lives.
Why did Pakistan wear pink kits?
The pink kits marked the PCB’s Breast Cancer Awareness Day, held during October, which is observed worldwide as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
What else did the PCB arrange for Pink Day?
The board offered free breast cancer screenings for fans from October 24 to 26, sold pink-themed merchandise, and auctioned signed shirts from Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam to fund treatment for patients.
Has Pakistan held a Pink Day before?
Yes. Pakistan observed a Pink Day during a T20I series against South Africa last year, and the Lahore fixture against England extended the campaign to ODI cricket.
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