The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has assured everyone that the three venues for the Champions Trophy 2025 will be ready by the first week of February. Announced as the hosts of the 8-team tournament back in 2021, the PCB hasn’t managed to get things in order with around 5 weeks left before the tournament kicks off (February 19).
Renovations underway
The capacity of the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is being increased from 27,000 to 35,000. Installing 480 state-of-the-art LED lights for better broadcast quality, two screens are being installed, and new player and hospitality enclosures are also being built. At the Rawalpindi Stadium, 10,000 seats are being added as well. The deadline for the completion of renovations for both of these venues is January 25. The last venue, the National Stadium in Karachi, is increasing its capacity by 5000 seats, installing 350 LED lights to improve visibility, adding two screens, and also creating new player and hospitality enclosures.
PCB confident venues will be ready for Champions Trophy
The PCB remains positive that the work will be done in the first week of February. That’s because they have shifted their tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa from Multan to Karachi and Lahore. The tri-series starts on February 8, and that suggests the three venues will be ready by then.
“All the work (related to stadiums) will be done by the first week of February. Pakistan will successfully host the Champions Trophy. No need to go by any rumours. We are committed to give our best. There are people who are trying to tarnish Pakistan’s image on social media. We know who all they are and why they are doing this,” a PCB official told IANS.
PCB past own deadline, ICC observing from afar
For the unaware, PCB had started renovations for the three venues in August. Initially, it was expected that things would be wrapped up by December 31. But as things stand, they will be at least one month late.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) might travel to Pakistan to review the progress of renovations. And, if for some reason the venues aren’t ready by February 12, a week before the Champions Trophy 2025 starts, reports suggest that the ICC will shift the entire tournament to the UAE. The India cricket team is already playing all of their ICC Champions Trophy matches there, and moving the tournament there won’t be a massive issue for the ICC.
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