The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi took a dig at India while allaying concerns about Pakistan’s readiness to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament. The tournament is to be hosted from February 19 to March 9 and will be the first ICC event since the 1996 World Cup to be played in Pakistan.

The three venues- Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi are currently in renovation as there are fears about whether Pakistan will be ready in time for the marquee event, which features the world's top eight teams.

India, on the other hand, will be playing its games in Dubai, UAE, as the Indian government refused permission for Men in Blue to cross the border to Pakistan to play the tournament.

While the stadiums in Karachi and Rawalpindi are still largely under construction or being renovated, the photographs from those areas do not offer a completely pleasant picture.

However, a confident Naqvi promised that Pakistan and its venues are ready to host the ICC event appropriately. He also took a dig at India and stated that people across the border wished the tournament should be moved out as the stadiums wouldn't be ready in time.

"They were people from across the border and even others who kept on saying it looks like the Champions Trophy would be moved out of Pakistan as stadiums are not going to be ready on time. But I can announce today we are set to go for the tri-series and Champions Trophy,” he told reporters at the new look Gaddafi stadium.

Naqvi added that while the Gaddafi Stadium will be ready when the Prime Minister inaugurates it on February 7, work on the National Stadium in Karachi and Rawalpindi Stadium will continue after the tournament.  

However, he stated that all essential work to provide a first-rate watching experience for spectators and viewers would be finished before the National Stadium's opening on February 11.

"Facilities for teams, officials, broadcasters, and media have all been upgraded and are complete. We will have the inauguration ceremony for the tournament on the 16th in Lahore. The captain's conference or the photoshoots will not be possible for the ICC or us because of the hectic traveling schedules of some teams,” Naqvi stated.

Naqvi said that the budget for repairs and restorations to all three stadiums had beyond the originally anticipated 12 billion Pakistani rupees, but he was optimistic that the expense would be returned.

“We have asked the ICC to refrain from providing us with the usual tickets and passes given to the host country. Instead, they are paying us the corresponding amount,” he said.

Naqvi reiterated that all the funds being spent on the stadiums were from the cricket board's resources and that no funds or grants had been taken from any other sources, including the government.

"There was criticism as the work progressed on these venues but we took it in stride and there was also some good advice and feedback that helped us a lot in achieving our target,” he said.

The PCB president also stated that they have invited top officials from all cricket boards, including India, to attend tournament events such as the inauguration ceremony, matches, semi-finals, and final.

“They will let us know about their plans but I think we will be playing host to many board officials and even sports ministers from different countries throughout the event,” he said.

Naqvi also addressed questions about the quality of the chairs put at Gaddafi Stadium, pointing out that they were manufactured in China and come with a 20-year warranty.

“And they cost us less than those already installed and we had to ensure we didn't go too much over the budget,” he added.

The tournament opener will be played between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19.

(PTI inputs)