Gaddafi Stadium is almost ready for the Champions Trophy 2025, but the International Cricket Board (ICC) isn’t. The facility in Lahore is 80% complete, with around two and a half months still left for the tournament to start. The only issue is that it isn’t certain anymore that Pakistan would host the 8-team tournament.
Gaddafi Stadium’s renovations for ICC Champions Trophy
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had decided to spend about Rs 235 crore on the renovations of the Gaddafi Stadium, and the construction started on October 10. A mere 53 days later, it’s 80% done. The was to construct a steel-structured pavilion and enclosure, a concrete office building, the installation of seats, two new LED digital screens, and new floodlights. But all of the money and time spent could go to waste.
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PCB and BCCI’s ongoing tiff
Currently, the PCB is at an impasse with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The BCCI isn’t willing to send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025, and as of now, the PCB isn’t on board to host the event in a hybrid model.
The schedule for the 15-match tournament should have been out by now, as per ICC’s own rules regarding the announcement of the schedule at least 100 days before the event starts. The PCB has floated a model called partnership or fusion, whereby for the next three years, all the India vs Pakistan matches at ICC tournaments will be played in Dubai, but nothing has come of it so far.
Champions Trophy 2025: PCB’s Proposed Schedule
- February 19: New Zealand vs Pakistan – Karachi
- February 20: Bangladesh vs India – Lahore
- February 21: Afghanistan vs South Africa – Karachi
- February 22: Australia vs England – Lahore
- February 23: New Zealand vs India – Lahore
- February 24: Pakistan vs Bangladesh – Rawalpindi
- February 25: Afghanistan vs England – Lahore
- February 26: Australia vs South Africa – Rawalpindi
- February 27: Bangladesh vs New Zealand – Lahore
- February 28: Afghanistan vs Australia – Rawalpindi
- March 1: Pakistan vs India – Lahore
- March 2: South Africa vs England – Rawalpindi
- March 5 Semi-final: TBC vs TBC – Karachi
- March 6 Semi-final: TBC vs TBC – Rawalpindi
