 "Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium will not be ready before 2 February. Image: Reuters")
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly pushed the deadline for completing the renovation work at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium to 2 February. Gaddafi Stadium is among the three stadiums that will be hosting the Champions Trophy 2025, which starts on 19 February . Besides Team India’s matches in Dubai, all Champions Trophy 2025 matches are taking place in Pakistan’s Lahore, National Stadium in Karachi and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.
The PCB has reportedly spent 12 billion Pakistani rupees renovating three stadiums for their first ICC event since the 1996 World Cup. However, delays in completing the work have raised questions about the country’s readiness to host such a prestigious global tournament.
Lahore stadium far from ready for Champions Trophy 2025
The renovation work at the stadiums was initially expected to be over by completed by 31 December but as Pakistan missed the deadline at all three venues, there were reports that the country could also lose the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy 2025 .
However, it seems not much has changed even after the deadline was pushed to 25 January. As per a report in Pakistan’s The Dawn, Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium is not ready yet and the deadline for the completion of work has now been pushed to 2 February. The report, however, also stated that " most of the work" at the stadium is complete and only “final touches” are remaining.
According to the PCB, the placement of chairs in the stadium is in its final stages. One digital screen has already been installed, with work on a second screen currently underway. Additionally, the installation of six floodlight poles equipped with new bulbs has been completed.
The PCB also released a video of the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday (23 February) to build confidence among the stakeholders. However, it can be seen in the video that a lot of renovation work is still pending.
ICC sure to have sleepless nights
Considering the start of the Champions Trophy 2025 is less than a month away, the delay in finishing the job at Gaddafi Stadium, despite renovation starting in October last year, is sure to give some sleepless nights to the ICC officials.
The slow pace of work at the stadiums in Pakistan has already created a lot of controversies online with PCB reportedly forced to limit journalists’ entry at Karachi and Lahore stadiums to control the negative publicity .
Impact Shorts
More ShortsWhile the PCB can manage negative PR by limiting news from the grounds, failing to prepare the stadiums in time will likely lead to bigger problems and global criticism.