Normalcy returns post-cricket

After the conclusion of the two-Test series between Pakistan and Bangladesh, the city district administration and police de-sealed the adjacent areas of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (RCS) on Tuesday.

The areas, which were earlier sealed with containers, barbed wires, and barricades around 15 days ago, included Food Street, Double Road, Shamsabad Bazaar, two petrol pumps, Allama Iqbal Park, and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Everyday life, business activities, and traffic in these areas fully resumed after the curfew-like situation ended yesterday. After the match ended, the Metrobus service's Double Road station was also reopened.

On Tuesday evening, the police cleared all the routes adjacent to the cricket stadium by removing the barbed wires and containers.

Food Street hotels, food centres, and dining establishments were also reopened.

All the surrounding eateries also resumed operations. With the opening of Double Road, all private offices, shops, and markets along both sides of the road were reopened.

Allama Iqbal Park was reopened on Tuesday evening. However, all schools on the road will reopen on Wednesday.

At the end of the match, the checkposts of police, Rangers, and military were dismantled. In the afternoon, the Bangladeshi team was transported to a secure location under tight security.

Meanwhile, local residents, traders and shopkeepers strongly protested and demanded that the cricket stadium be moved outside the city.

Shopkeepers Iqbal Shah and Faisal Khurshid from Double Road Shamsabad complain that their businesses are shut three days before a match and until the last night of the match, which they say is unfair. They suggest moving the cricket stadium to Parade Ground.

Amjad Khan Khattak, a shopkeeper from Food Street, says when a match starts, Food Street is completely closed. The closure devastates their businesses. He urges the government to take notice and allow them to operate their businesses peacefully and freely.