he increasing weather uncertainty is a threat to the game of cricket as we know it. The Women’s ODI World Cup has just concluded, with hosts India crowned as champions. While the women in blue celebrated their maiden world title, another unusual aspect of the tournament was that out of the eight participating teams, South Africa was the only one to play all its matches. Every other team had at least one rain-affected game with no result. Pakistan, which was playing in Sri Lanka, saw three of its seven games washed out.

There is no doubt that climate change is reshaping the world around us. Cricket is among the most affected sports. Given that South Asia is among the most vulnerable regions to climate change, it’s increasingly difficult to imagine a major event in the region unaffected by weather disruptions. While Pakistan has borne the brunt of climate change in the just concluded international tournaments, the situation isn’t too different at home, either. Earlier this year, the Men’s Champions Trophy, hosted by Pakistan, also witnessed three games abandoned due to rain. Currently, any game played in northeastern Pakistan offers a smoggy view.

Across the border, the IPL governing council had to introduce two hours of extra time for the matches after three games were abandoned and two were shortened due to rain in IPL 2025. Later, the Meteorological Department issued a yellow alert for a game in Bengaluru, predicting very heavy rainfall. The game had to be shifted to another city.

While the South Asian region is in the spotlight due to its higher vulnerability, every Test-playing nation has faced at least one major climate disaster in the last decade. These have included floods, heat waves and torrential rain. The repercussions for cricket can be witnessed in the form of washed-out matches in 2025 alone. Three games of the Big Bash League were abandoned, county cricket in England was affected and international matches in New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Ireland were washed out.

Rapidly changing climates have immediate repercussions for the players as well. Australian bowler Ashton Agar described this phenomenon in 2024. He said, “Over the last 12 years, there have been a lot of impacts with climate change. There are three games of the Big Bash League that I’ve played under 40-degree heat. So there have been some crazy events that seem to be happening more and more regularly as a result of climate change.”

To curb the impact of climate change and utilise sport for meaningful action, the United Nations launched the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework in 2018. This framework aims to reduce the carbon emissions of signatories by half by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2040. England and Wales have been the only full member cricketing board to pledge this commitment. Neither any other national board nor the International Cricket Council are among the signatories. This highlights the lack of interest from cricket governing bodies and will have serious consequences for the future of the game.

There is a need to pursue climate-friendly cricket. This involves actions like opting for solar energy in the stadiums, the use of reusable items and water recycling. Some of these initiatives are now visible at venues such as Lord’s in England. In Australia, Pat Cummins has founded an organisation that promotes net-zero emissions, player education and climate awareness among fans.

Although efforts by a single board and a single player are encouraging, greater planning and inclusion are required. The International Cricket Council must adopt a more structured approach, such as prioritising analyses of rain hotspots when scheduling events, urging national boards to adopt climate-friendly infrastructure and aligning with initiatives like the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.

The Pakistan Cricket Board signed anMoU in 2023 to play its role in lowering carbon emissions. However, since then, there has not been significant attention towards environmental constraints. The Pakistan Cricket Board, in collaboration with the Capital Development Authority, has even announced the construction of an international stadium near Zone III of Islamabad, where construction is prohibited (to protect nature) under a 1992 regulation.

On the one hand, cricket’s vulnerability to climate change is a warning; on the other hand, the sport’s massive reach makes it a powerful platform for raising environmental awareness. Recently, an exhibition match in Peshawar raised Rs 10 million for flood relief. This, in itself, is an example of harnessing cricket’s influence for climate change mitigation. Throughout history, sports have played an integral part in resolving conflicts. It’s high time to utilise the country’s most favourite sport in the quest to combat climate change.

Pakistan Cricket Board does not rely on government funding. In fact, it pays a substantial amount in taxes

Over recent years, the game has transformed into a national asset rather than a mere sport. Recently, the PCB sold the title sponsorship of the Pakistan Super League’s 2026-2028 window for $26.2 million. This marks a rise of 505 percent since the inaugural season. The PCB should utilise this progression to ensure a sustainable future for cricket in Pakistan. Washed-out games not only affect the sport but also discourage the sponsors.

Under its pitch development programme, the PCB has recently initiated building cricket infrastructure in 24 districts. The programme should be extended to flood-hit regions, following the England and Wales Cricket Board’s emergency fund, through which the board rebuilds cricket clubs affected by floods.

The writer is a journalist at The Centrum Media, covering climate, sports and socio-political issues. He has previously worked at the Prime Minister’s Office and is a former fellow at Investigative Reporters and Editors (USA).