Pakistan Blames Rachin Ravindra for Injury After PCB Backlash: ‘Light Was Fine, He Misjudged the Ball’

Published on: February 11, 2025

Pakistan Blames Rachin Ravindra for Injury After PCB Backlash: ‘Light Was Fine, He Misjudged the Ball’

Pakistan Defends PCB Amid Rachin Ravindra’s Injury Controversy

Pakistan has strongly defended the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following the on-field injury of New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra during the first ODI of the tri-series between New Zealand and Pakistan. The incident, which saw Rachin suffer a head injury due to an alleged visibility issue, led to widespread criticism of the PCB, with many questioning the quality of floodlights at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. However, Pakistani cricket figures, including former captain Salman Butt, have dismissed these concerns, shifting the blame onto Rachin himself.

The Incident: Rachin Ravindra’s Painful Blow

During the first ODI, Rachin Ravindra found himself in a dangerous situation while attempting to take a catch. Misjudging the ball’s trajectory, he failed to spot it in time, resulting in a direct hit to his forehead. The impact caused severe bleeding, and he had to leave the field immediately, covering his face with a white towel as blood dripped from his wound.

New Zealand Cricket later confirmed that Rachin had sustained a laceration on his forehead, which required stitches. While he was being monitored for further medical concerns, the incident triggered a storm of reactions from cricket fans, experts, and officials, sparking a heated debate over whether the PCB was at fault for the conditions at Gaddafi Stadium.

PCB Faces Backlash Over Stadium Floodlights

Following Rachin’s injury, a significant portion of the cricketing community pointed fingers at the PCB, blaming inadequate lighting at the newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium for the mishap. The stadium had been unveiled just a day before the match, with much fanfare, as Pakistan prepared to host the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

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However, the criticism soon escalated into a larger debate over Pakistan’s ability to host major ICC events, with some voices on social media even calling for the Champions Trophy 2025 to be moved out of Pakistan due to the alleged lack of basic infrastructure. Fans and analysts questioned whether the floodlights were installed correctly and whether they met international standards.

Pakistan Defends PCB: ‘Rachin Misjudged the Ball’

Amid the growing criticism, Pakistan’s cricketing fraternity pushed back, vehemently defending the PCB. Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt was one of the most vocal supporters of the board, arguing that Rachin’s injury was purely a result of his own mistake rather than any fault of the stadium’s lighting.

Speaking on a local news channel, Butt dismissed concerns over the floodlights, highlighting that the same lights were used throughout the match when New Zealand players successfully hit sixes and took catches.

“There’s no point trying to make people understand when they don’t want to. It’s irrelevant. These are some of the latest LED lights that have been installed, so they are fine. When New Zealand players hit sixes off deliveries bowled at close to 150 kph, were the lights not working then? A player who was standing 70 meters away failed to take the catch because of his misjudgment. He is a fine fielder, but perhaps his leg slipped, and he got hurt.”

Another Pakistani news anchor echoed Butt’s stance, emphasizing that technical issues in stadiums are not uncommon. He pointed to a recent incident in India, where a floodlight failure at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack caused a 30-minute delay in the second ODI between India and England.

“Like some of the prior campaigns that stated Pakistan cannot host a tournament as big as the Champions Trophy because the stadiums are not ready, I want to ask the same people—what do you have to say about what happened in Barabati Stadium? That is an established stadium. So, I want to say that these things happen. These are not big issues. Just because Rachin was hit in the face doesn’t mean that PCB is to be blamed for it.”

Contrasting Views: Divided Opinions on PCB’s Responsibility

While some defended the PCB, others were far less forgiving.
Former Pakistan cricketer Tanvir Ahmed took a different stance, criticizing the PCB’s management and questioning its ability to maintain proper stadium facilities.

“We don’t even have the money. Whatever is done to maintain the stadiums comes from state associations.”

Tanvir’s statement pointed to a larger issue—Pakistan’s financial struggles in cricket administration—and whether the PCB had the necessary resources to ensure world-class facilities in preparation for the Champions Trophy.

Similarly, Shoaib Mohammad, son of legendary cricketer Hanif Mohammad, suggested that something was indeed wrong with the floodlight setup at Gaddafi Stadium. According to him, Rachin was not the only player who struggled with visibility; even Daryl Mitchell appeared to have difficulty spotting the ball while fielding.

“Most definitely. In fact, before the whole Rachin Ravindra incident, I noticed that even Daryl Mitchell had some trouble spotting the ball when he was fielding. The moment he took the catch, at a normal height, I noticed that his expressions indicated that he couldn’t quite see the ball properly.”

Shoaib went on to suggest that the placement of the floodlights might have been a technical issue, affecting the players’ visibility.

“Rachin was standing at deep square leg, and the light was right before him. Now, that is not usually where floodlights are erected in a stadium. There is some glare due to which the ball is getting lost in the players’ vision.”

Larger Implications: Pakistan’s Readiness for Champions Trophy 2025

The controversy surrounding Rachin Ravindra’s injury has brought renewed scrutiny to Pakistan’s ability to host major ICC tournaments. With the Champions Trophy 2025 scheduled to take place in the country, any infrastructural issues—whether real or perceived—could pose a challenge for PCB in convincing the cricketing world that Pakistan is fully prepared.

The criticism also highlights a wider debate about stadium facilities in international cricket. While incidents like the Barabati Stadium floodlight failure in India suggest that such technical problems are not exclusive to Pakistan, the narrative surrounding PCB’s capabilities remains a sensitive subject.

For Pakistan, successfully hosting the 2025 Champions Trophy is about more than just cricket—it is about proving to the world that the country is a safe and capable venue for international sports.

Final Thoughts: Who Is to Blame?

At the heart of the debate remains a simple question: Was Rachin Ravindra’s injury due to poor lighting or player misjudgment?

While PCB defenders like Salman Butt argue that Rachin simply made an error, critics like Shoaib Mohammad believe that stadium conditions played a role. The truth may lie somewhere in between.

Regardless of the immediate blame game, the incident has put Pakistan’s cricket infrastructure under the microscope, and the PCB will need to ensure that every aspect of its stadiums meets the highest international standards before the Champions Trophy 2025 arrives.

Whether this controversy fades away or escalates further may depend on how PCB responds in the coming months—both in addressing concerns and proving that Pakistan is ready for world-class cricket on its home soil.