Pakistan wear pink against England at Lahore ODI for breast cancer awareness, with free screenings for fans

LAHORE: Pakistan will walk out at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday in pink jerseys instead of their usual green for the ODI tri-series match against England, turning a crucial game into a breast cancer awareness day.

The special kits are part of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Pink Day initiative, held during October, which is observed worldwide as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The board has teamed up with the Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Trust Hospital to carry the message beyond the boundary rope.

England’s players, the match officials and commentators will wear pink ribbons in support. The stumps will be pink too, and the stadium screens and advertising boards will carry awareness messages through the day.

Free screenings for fans

The initiative goes further than the shirts. The PCB has arranged free breast cancer screenings for fans from October 24 to 26, hoping the occasion will push more people towards early check-ups.

PCB chief operating officer Sumair Ahmad Syed said cricket’s reach in Pakistan carries a responsibility, and the board wants to use the sport’s platform to stress early detection and timely treatment. The message, he said, is aimed squarely at households that might otherwise put off a check-up.

Auction to fund treatment

Signed jerseys from Shaheen Shah Afridi and Babar Azam will also be auctioned, with the proceeds going towards treatment for patients who cannot afford it. Fans can buy pink-themed merchandise through the PCB’s online store, with the money raised going to the same cause.

Pakistan held a Pink Day before, during last year’s T20I series against South Africa. Sunday’s match is the first of the Lahore leg of the tri-series: a Pakistan win would book their place in the October 31 final, while England, beaten twice already, must win both their remaining games to stay alive.