 "Pakistan is facing a race against time to get their cricket stadiums ready for Champions Trophy 2025. Images: Huzaiba and Ahmad Hasseb on X")
Frustrated by frequent reports about the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lagging behind schedule in renovating stadiums for the Champions Trophy 2025, the board has reportedly restricted journalists’ entry into the Karachi and Lahore stadiums.
An explosive report in the second week of January claimed that the PCB was expected to complete the renovation work at Karachi’s National Stadium, Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – venues for Champions Trophy 2025 – by 31 December but they are running alarmingly behind. The report added that it can also lead to the ICC event being moved entirely out of the country as videos of incomplete work at stadiums in Pakistan started doing the rounds on social media.
Media reports on renovation work become headache for PCB
Ever since, local journalists have been shooting videos in stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, or Rawalpindi and ’exposing’ the delay in renovation work as PCB tries to meet the new deadline of 25 January.
To build confidence among fans and other stakeholders, Pakistan have also shifted a tri-series to Karachi and Lahore from Multan . The ODI tri-series involving Pakistan, South Africa, and New Zealand was to start on 8 February in Multan ahead of the Champions Trophy that begins on 19 February.
This, however, did little to help the PCB, as another video captured by local media at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore has reignited concerns that Pakistan’s stadiums may not be ready in time for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
PCB tries to control narrative against stadium renovation
To bring a permanent end to the negative publicity and the constant concerns surrounding the stadium renovation work in Pakistan, the PCB has banned media access to stadiums in Karachi and Lahore, News18 reported.
The report states that journalists will now only be allowed to enter the stadiums on a fixed day during the week. They will only be able to tour the stadiums on these fixed days and the recording of videos will take place in the presence of PCB media representatives.
“It has become irritating for us the way some people are constantly going to the stadiums without permission and filming or talking about minor issues of construction work and presenting their views on preparations for the mega event," a PCB insider said.
The PCB hopes such a move will restrict ‘conflicting’ reports from international media outlets questioning Pakistan’s readiness to host the Champions Trophy 2025.
The Champions Trophy 2025 will start with hosts Pakistan taking on New Zealand on 19 February at the National Stadium in Karachi.