In the ODI tri-series match against England, which also made Sri Lanka participate, the Pakistan players donned pink uniforms to advocate breast cancer awareness among others. The match took place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had already made it public that the game would help create awareness of the disease.
This campaign forms part of the PCB’s social responsibility initiative whose aim is to make others aware of the importance of early detection of breast cancer and getting treatment for it. It is known that October is the Breast Cancer Awareness Month worldwide.
The color pink was used throughout the stadium. The players wore their uniforms in pink, and even the stumps were made pink. The messages of breast cancer awareness were also shown on the large screens and the LED boards. The England players, match officials, and commentators wore pink ribbons to show their support of the patients and survivors of breast cancer.
Pakistan Players Wear Pink Jerseys to Raise Breast Cancer Awareness
The campaign was arranged by PCB in collaboration with Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Trust Hospital. According to PCB’s COO Sumair Ahmad, cricket’s popularity in Pakistan enables it to reach a large audience and deliver meaningful health messages.
He further clarified that the cricket board is keen to make use of international cricket’s popularity to create awareness about breast cancer and emphasize the significance of detection and treatment in time.
Just like last year, during T20I series against South Africa, Pakistan had organized this awareness day. However, it is the first time that the PCB has arranged such an event during an ODI match.
Pakistan (Playing XI): Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Saad Baig(w), Salman Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Shaheen Afridi(c), Razaullah, Haris Rauf
England (Playing XI): Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook(c), Jordan Cox(w), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Gus Atkinson, Henry Crocombe