The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to get underway on February 19 with the final on March 9 and will see eight teams in 15 contests.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi’s National Bank Stadium are to host the matches in Pakistan, with India playing their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai.
Amid reports claiming that the 2025 Champions Trophy might be completely shifted out of Pakistan due to delay in renovation work at the stadiums, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said preparations are in full swing and all the work related to the stadiums will be done by the first week of February.
With the renovation work at the venues that began last August and were scheduled to be completed by December 31 yet not done, a spate of reports came that the ICC would send a team to Pakistan to inspect the three stadiums. In case the venues do not turn up ready for handover on February 12, the entire tournament would be shifted to the UAE.
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," the PCB official was quoted as saying to IANS.
The capacity of Gaddafi Stadium has been increased to 35,000 with two giant digital replay screens also scheduled to be installed by next week. New player and hospitality enclosures have been built, which the PCB says will be operational by Jan. 25.
At Karachi’s National Bank Stadium, new player and officials’ hospitality enclosures have been constructed, as well as 5,000 new seats.
Work at the third venue for the Champions Trophy - Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi - has also included installing 10,000 new seats. "More than 250 workers (are) laboring day and night to meet the Jan. 25 deadline" for renovation work, PCB said.
"The PCB is confident that the improvements will enhance the fan experience and maintain Pakistan's status as one of the best cricketing countries," the PCB said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.
However, the PCB on Wednesday moved the ODI tri-series, also involving South Africa and New Zealand, from Multan to Karachi and Lahore, saying the move was due to the advanced stage of preparations at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi’s National Stadium, which will host six of the 12 Champions Trophy group stage matches.
Pakistan, for the first time since the 1996 ODI World Cup, co-hosted with India, is set to stage an ICC event.
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