The monumental reworking challenge, which started in August 2024 was scheduled to revamp the present stadiums by December 31.
With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 set to start on February 19 in Lahore, Pakistan, there are mounting doubts relating to the nation’s largest cricket stadiums’ preparation. With solely 40 days till the match, there are considerations over whether or not Pakistan’s key cricket stadiums can be prepared to host such a famend occasion.
Despite the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) assertions of readiness, there seems to be critical query relating to the readiness of the nation’s three main stadiums. According to reviews, the National Stadium in Karachi, the famend Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium still want to be upgraded to fulfill the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) strict standards.
The monumental reworking challenge, which started in August 2024, was scheduled to revamp the present stadiums by December 31. Unfortunately, unexpected delays have interrupted this timeframe, requiring the PCB to race to accomplish the required work on time.
With the brand new deadline approaching, the PCB should full the remaining building work nicely prematurely of handing over the stadiums to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on February 12, 2025.
Gaddafi Stadium (yesterday)
Finishing deadline 25 January #ChampionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/JcI32tZZ3K
— Sohail Imran (@sohailimrangeo) January 7, 2025
“It is a very disappointing picture. All three stadiums are far from ready and it’s not renovation or refurbishment, but proper construction which is underway. There is so much work left with seats, floodlights, facilities and even the outfield and playing surfaces,” a supply was quoted as saying by Times of India.
“The weather is not ideal for construction and finishing work to happen at a rapid pace. At Gadaffi, even the plaster work isn’t completed yet. And most of the time is taken by finishing work because we are talking about dressing rooms etc. They just can’t be random rooms/enclosures for an ICC event. ICC has a checklist which needs to be met. National Stadium has decided to not completely finish the new enclosure because there is no time.”
The host international locations of essential worldwide occasions adhere to a standard course of during which they hand over the venues to the governing physique, on this case, the International Cricket Council (ICC), nicely prematurely. This provides the ICC sufficient time to undertake rigorous high quality checks and make any required preparations to make sure the occasion runs easily and efficiently.
“It’s a no-brainer on what would happen if PCB misses deadlines and venues don’t meet ICC checklist. Tournament can’t be played at semi-ready venues. The next week will give more clarity on the future but PCB and ICC together need to pull off a miracle,” the report said.
In an elaborate report, the PCB knowledgeable followers, spectators, and the media that each one upgrades at each websites are on monitor and can be accomplished by or across the dates.
The PCB reported that Gaddafi Stadium’s capability has been elevated to 35,000, with new seating constructed, and that the opening will happen within the final week of January.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today announced that preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 were in full swing, with the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and National Bank Stadium in Karachi nearing completion to host tournament matches,” a press release from PCB learn.
“In a regular update, the PCB assured the fans, spectators and media that all upgradation work was progressing on schedule and will be completed before or around the set deadlines.”
“Given the advanced stage of preparations at Gaddafi Stadium and National Bank Stadium, the PCB has decided to relocate the upcoming tri-nation ODI series to these two venues. The series, featuring New Zealand and South Africa alongside Pakistan, was originally scheduled to be held in Multan,” the assertion additional learn.
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