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KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has dedicated Thursday to a breast cancer awareness initiative during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11, marking the occasion as ‘Pink Day’ in a bid to use cricket’s platform for a wider social cause.
The campaign forms part of the board’s corporate social responsibility efforts, aiming to spread awareness about one of the most prevalent health challenges facing women in Pakistan.
In the double-header scheduled for today, Hyderabad Kingsmen will take on Rawalpindiz in the first match at 2.30pm PKT, while Karachi Kings and Islamabad United will go head-to-head in the afternoon game.
“The Pink Day will include a brace of activities and initiatives at the National Bank Stadium. All the players of the four teams in action today, the match officials, the PCB officials, the team owners will wear pink caps and ribbons,” the cricket board said in a statement.
The National Bank Stadium will reflect the theme, with pink stumps and specially designed broadcast graphics reinforcing the message.
Breast cancer is the most common form of the disease in Pakistan, accounting for 16.5 per cent of all cancer patients in the country, according to the available online surveys.
One in nine women in Pakistan develops breast cancer, putting the country at the highest rate of occurrence in Asia.
It can be cured and addressed better when society comes together to first raise awareness about the disease and then to stand steadfast with the patients and their families.
The PSL and PCB have organised the Pink Day in partnership with the Pink Ribbon Hospital in Lahore, which is Pakistan’s first Breast Cancer Charity Hospital. The PCB and Pink Ribbon Hospital have also arranged free-of-cost screening for women from 13 to 18 April in Lahore.
At 8pm PKT, the Pakistan Cricket fraternity is set to come together to share their messages and thoughts regarding Breast Cancer Awareness on X using the official hashtag of the day #GoPink.
The fans are also encouraged to express their views and thoughts regarding the Pink Day using the official hashtag.
In a notable gesture, Pakistan women’s team captain Fatima Sana, along with players Syeda Aroob Shah, Rameen Shamim and Muneeba Ali, will participate in pre-match activities to further highlight the importance of the cause.
PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer emphasised the league’s commitment to social impact, stating that the platform provides a powerful opportunity to educate the public and stand in solidarity with those affected.
“The HBL Pakistan Super League takes a lot of pride in standing up to raise awareness around breast cancer. Through the vehicle of sport and the sheer popularity of the HBL PSL as a brand, the PCB aims to go above and beyond to fulfil its corporate social responsibility,” he said.
“Through the HBL PSL 11 and this specially arranged Pink Day, we want to not only educate the masses about the disease but also to send out a strong message of solidarity to the patients, their families and the loved ones. We are thankful to the Pink Ribbon Hospital and the whole cricket fraternity for coming together to weave a net of security and empathy for women suffering from this disease in our society.”
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