Reports: Pakistan's venues are struggling to meet the deadline, as construction work remains unfinished ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is just around the corner, there are a few issues that the International Cricket Council needs to deal. Reports coming from the Times of India have claimed that concerns are being raised over the inability of the Pakistan Cricket Board to finish off the required construction work at the venues that the tournament will be held at.
Though the fixtures for the tournament were released, it would seem the PCB are not yet to completed renovation work on the three major cricketing stadiums that are supposed to stage the games set to be played in Pakistan. There are concerns about whether this will affect their ability to host the exciting cricket tournament.
The ICC has set a deadline of February 12th for the Pakistan Cricket Board to complete the renovations at the stadiums for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy
Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and National Stadium in Karachi are behind schedule. Reports says that ICC has given the time to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) until February 12 to complete renovation. But progress is still slow and no major improvements have been made till now.
The PCB began renovations in August and planned to have it completed by Dec 31, but it has not yet been completed. This delay is a cause for concern for the ICC, especially as they have been criticized for poor infrastructure during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Venues in Pakistan
| Venue | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Karachi | National Stadium | 34,238 |
| Lahore | Gaddafi Stadium | 27,000 |
| Rawalpindi | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium | 15,000 |
Venue in United Arab Emirates
| Venue | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | 25,000 |
An ICC source mentioned that all three stadiums are far from being ready and what’s happening is not renovation or refurbishment, but actual construction that is still in progress
An ICC official expressed disappointment over the slow progress by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in preparing for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Speaking to the Times of India, the official said that there are significant delays in renovating three key stadiums, which are far from ready.
"It is really disappointment to see like this. We are not just talking about cosmetic repairs or slight improvements here, but major construction work that has not even completed its work. The list goes on seats are still being put up, the floodlights upgraded, facilities enhanced, and work even being done on the outfields and playing surfaces," he said.
He added that the weather also does not let the pace of construction. "At Gaddafi Stadium, even basic plaster work hasn't been finished yet. And we have to remember that finishing touches, like dressing rooms. These can't just be any ordinary rooms; they have to meet the ICC's stringent standards. As for the National Stadium, they've reportedly decided to leave the new enclosure incomplete because there simply isn't enough time to finish it properly."
ICC source: Tournaments can't be held at partially ready venues
The ICC has issued a warning that in case the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is unable to deliver within the time frames or if the venues for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 do not fulfill the required parameters, the event may be shifted out of Pakistan. A decision on the venue will be made next week.
An ICC source commented, "It's obvious what will happen if the PCB misses deadlines or the venues are not up to standard. A global tournament cannot take place at venues that aren't fully prepared. The coming week will provide more clarity, but both the PCB and ICC have a huge task ahead if they are to make this happen."
This included the revelation of a visit plan by ICC officials to Pakistan to assess the progression of preparations done for the said tournament at the end of January. Informal contingency discussions apparently are being undertaken in Dubai as well.
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