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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has informed about the preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy as it is in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. Recent reports claim that preparations for the marquee event in Pakistan are far from ideal, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) is concerned.
The ICC faced a similar situation last year during the T20 World Cup in the USA. The governing body had to deal with an infrastructural mess in the US and could also find itself in a similar spot ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.
Renovation work on Pakistan’s three stadiums – the National Stadium in Karachi, the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – was due to be completed by 31 December.
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However, the work is nowhere near over and the PCB is now in a race against time to hand over the sites to the ICC on February 12. A report in the Times of India has stated that an ICC team will leave for Pakistan later this week for a status check.
At the same time, the governing body has also started discussing the contingency plan in case PCB does not complete the work on time. In this case, the entire ICC Champions Trophy 2025 could be shifted to the UAE.
PCB gives an update on preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy:
With the ICC unhappy about the pace at which renovation work is going on at the stadium, the PCB has come up with an update. In a statement, the board said preparations are in full swing and the three stadiums are nearing completion to host the tournament matches.
The board also stated that all the upgrade work was progressing schedule and will be completed on or around the established deadlines. In the same statement, the PCB also confirmed that the tri-ODIseries with New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa has moved to Karachi and Lahore. The series was initially scheduled to be held in Multan.
“This decision reflects the PCB’s confidence in the readiness of these upgraded facilities and their ability to provide a world-class experience for players, officials and fans. More details about the series will be shared in due course,” the PCB stated.
PCB update in each stadium:
For Gaddafi Stadium Lahore:
- Spectator capacity increased to 35,000 with new seats installed throughout the venue.
- 480 state-of-the-art LED lights installed.
- Two giant digital playback screens will be installed next week.
- The stadium will be inaugurated in the last week of January.
- A new hospitality facility for players and officials has been created and will be operational on January 25.
For Karachi National Stadium:
- Creation of a new reception area for players and officials in the university end.
- 350 LED lights installed
- Fixed two digital playback screens.
- 5,000 new chairs installed.
For Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium:
- The stadium is undergoing minor renovations.
- Focusing on the installation of 10,000 new chairs, hospitality box upgrades and the installation of two digital playback screens.
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