The Pakistan Cricket Board encountered significant criticism following an incident in which Rachin Ravindra sustained an injury while fielding during the first One Day International of the tri-series involving New Zealand and the host nation, Pakistan. While attempting to catch a ball, Rachin lost sight of it, resulting in a direct hit to his head that caused substantial bleeding. With blood streaming from his forehead, he was compelled to exit the field, his face obscured by a white towel.

The incident sparked a broader backlash against the PCB, with fans attributing blame to both the board and the floodlights at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. This venue had only been inaugurated the day prior, generating considerable excitement among cricket enthusiasts in the country. Some individuals even called for the removal of the Champions Trophy 2025 from Pakistan, citing a lack of essential safety measures.

In response to the situation, the Pakistani community rallied, with former captain Salman Butt asserting that Rachin bore responsibility for his serious injury. Despite New Zealand Cricket's official statement indicating that the all-rounder had sustained a laceration on his forehead requiring stitches and ongoing monitoring, Butt contended that Rachin's failure to judge the ball correctly led to his misfortune.

"There is no value in attempting to explain things to those unwilling to listen. It is irrelevant. The LED lights recently installed are of high quality. When New Zealand players hit sixes off deliveries bowled at nearly 150 kph, were the lights not functioning then? A player positioned 70 meters away failed to catch the ball due to his miscalculation. He is an excellent fielder, but perhaps he lost his footing and was injured," he remarked on a local news channel.

Another news anchor in Pakistan supported Butt's perspective. The day following this incident, the second ODI between India and England at Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium experienced a nearly 30-minute delay due to a malfunctioning floodlight. Similar to the PCB, the BCCI also faced public criticism, and the situation escalated further.

Contrasting takes

In contrast, former Pakistan cricketer Tanvir Ahmed criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), asserting that it lacks the capability to properly maintain stadiums. "We do not even have the necessary funds. The maintenance of the stadiums is solely reliant on state associations," he remarked.

Additionally, Shoaib Mohammad, the son of the legendary Hanif Mohammad, expressed concerns regarding the lighting conditions. "Without a doubt. In fact, prior to the incident involving Rachin Ravindra, I observed that Daryl Mitchell also struggled to see the ball while fielding. When he caught the ball at a standard height, his facial expressions suggested that he was having difficulty seeing it clearly," he noted.

"If he experienced the same issue, then there is definitely a problem. The positioning of the floodlights is a technical matter. Rachin was positioned at deep square leg, and the lights were directly in front of him. Typically, floodlights are not installed in that area of a stadium. There is some glare that is causing the ball to become obscured from the players' sight."

Mitchell had successfully caught the ball to dismiss Salman Agha.

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