CT 2025: “The board would either be hero or zero”—PCB in race against time to complete work at venues—Report
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to begin in Pakistan on February 19.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in a race against time as there have been considerable delays in the renovation completion of the three venues that will host the 15 matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The 8-team tournament is the first ICC tournament hosted by Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup. The tournament will be hosted by Pakistan from February 19, with India playing its games in Dubai. Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, apart from Dubai, will be the venues for the matches.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) claims that Karachi's National Stadium will be ready to host Champions Trophy matches beginning February 19, amid growing worries over the venue's readiness.
However, Pakistan’s news daily, The Dawn, carried a report saying that the board completing work at the venues will be a mammoth task to achieve.
"It seems absolutely impossible to contemplate the renovation work being completed within the deadline, but the personnel handed the responsibility are beaming with confidence. The board would either be a hero or a zero for taking up such a mammoth task,” Dawn’s report read.
Although PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi examined the Rawalpindi stadium on Tuesday and confirmed that the Champions Trophy would take place as planned, it appears unlikely that the board will take control of the refurbished facilities in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi by the January 31 deadline.
The other forthcoming significant international matches at these locations are a four-game tri-series with New Zealand and South Africa on February 8-14, with the first two games in Lahore and the final two in Karachi.
"Look, the stadiums will be in a shape to host matches, but the question is the PCB has promised everyone a world-class experience at these renovated venues for the Tri-series and Champions Trophy, and whether they can deliver on that promise remains to be seen," a source, who is following the construction work, said.
Bilal Chohan, the guy in charge of the rehabilitation work, reportedly complained about not receiving the necessary equipment and clearances on time to complete the work in Karachi.
Additionally, the stadium's new floodlights have been cleared from Karachi Port, and installation will begin on Wednesday.
Bilal Chohan said the replay screens would arrive in Karachi from Dubai within the next two days. He emphasized that the civil work is concluded, with 80% of the finishing work completed. The air conditioning system has also been tested and will be retested once the glasswork is complete.
The PCB has spent around PKR 12 billion on renovation, construction, and installation of equipment at all three venues in Lahore and Karachi.
(PTI inputs)