Photo Credit: ICC Cricket
Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), assured the International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation that stadium upgrades for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will be completed on time.
During a meeting in Islamabad, Naqvi confirmed that renovation work at all venues will be finished before the tournament. He emphasized that all participating teams will receive top-tier security and international-standard facilities for players and spectators.
The ICC delegation, including senior officials such as Sarah Edgar, Aun Muhammad Zaidi, Wasim Khan, and Security Manager David Musker, expressed satisfaction with the preparations in Karachi and Rawalpindi, as well as the security arrangements reviewed during their visit.
Naqvi highlighted Pakistan’s passion for cricket, ensuring that fans will enjoy a world-class experience during the Champions Trophy.
A few months prior, at the ICC’s annual meeting in Colombo, the budget for the 2025 Champions Trophy was officially approved on the last day of the meeting. Pakistan was represented by Naqvi, and the budget was prepared by ICC Chief Finance Officer Ankur Khanna and PCB Chief Finance Officer Javed Murtaza.
Recent reports indicated that the Indian cricket team might play its matches at a neutral venue rather than traveling to Pakistan. However, the PCB maintains that the entire event should take place in Pakistan. The PCB delegation strongly advocated for this position at the ICC meeting in Colombo, held from July 19 to 22.
The PCB has designated three venues for the eight-match tournament: Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore, with all of India’s matches planned for Lahore. Additionally, the PCB has allocated Rs12.80 billion for upgrades at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi, and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium in preparation for the event.
The Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025.
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