 "Champions Trophy 2025: Uncertainty looms as Karachi's National Stadium struggles to meet deadline")
As the countdown to the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy continues, concerns are growing over the readiness of the host venues, particularly the National Stadium in Karachi, which is still far from complete ahead of the looming deadline. With just a day left before the 30 January handover to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing intense scrutiny over the state of its stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
Pakistan is preparing to host its first ICC event since the 1996 World Cup , and the PCB has committed billions to renovating and upgrading the three stadiums to meet international standards. However, delays in the construction and renovation work are raising serious questions about the country’s preparedness for such a prestigious global tournament.
The National Stadium in Karachi, which is one of the focal points of these renovations, has undergone significant changes, including the addition of a five-story building that houses modern facilities such as Anti-Corruption and Anti-Doping units, physio rooms, and match officials’ rooms on the ground floor. On the second floor, state-of-the-art dressing rooms have been built to cater to the needs of players during the event.
Pakistan’s readiness for Champions Trophy under scrutiny
Despite these upgrades, a video shared by a Pakistani journalist has cast doubt on the stadium’s progress. The footage showed that large sections of the stadium appeared incomplete, with construction and finishing touches still underway. This has raised concerns about whether the venue will be ready in time for the start of the tournament.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe PCB has already pushed the deadline for completing the renovation work at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium to 2 February , fueling concerns about the board’s ability to meet the ICC’s requirements. With the Champions Trophy just weeks away, the PCB faces the daunting task of completing the work on time and ensuring the stadiums are ready to host the world’s top cricket teams.
The coming days will be crucial for the PCB, and they will need to address the lingering concerns surrounding the readiness of the venues if they hope to avoid any further setbacks ahead of the Champions Trophy.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already made it clear that it will not send a team to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, citing security concerns. As a result, Team India will play all their matches in Dubai.
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