Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi stressed the urgent necessity for modernizing the nation’s cricket stadiums on Monday, as preparations get under way for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
In a recent speech, Naqui acknowledged the stark discrepancy that exists between Pakistani venues and international norms, emphasizing the shortcomings that must be fixed in order to effectively host the upcoming world event.
Naqui emphasized that none of the stadiums that Pakistan now has fit international standards, pointing out that the infrastructure are deficient in a number of important areas.
They were by no means international stadiums; “koi bhi stadiums internationally qualify kaar hi nhi shkta tha – na seats the, na bathrooms aur view asa tha ki aap 500 metre door se dekh rahe hai (none of them could qualify as international by any standard – there weren’t enough seats or bathrooms, and the view made it seem like you were watching from 500 meters away),” Naqvi said, highlighting the significance of updating these locations to keep up with improvements in the world of sports infrastructure.
With an emphasis on the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the National Stadium in Karachi, and the Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium, the PCB has started an extensive restoration project.
The proposed Rs 12.8 billion in renovations is intended to bring these facilities up to international standards in time for the February–March 2025 Champions Trophy.
When Naqvi visited Gaddafi Stadium to assess the work, he was optimistic that the repairs would be finished on schedule.
He praised the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) for their round-the-clock efforts, stating, “We will make our stadiums one of the best in the world. Providing basic facilities in stadiums is first priority.”
The PCB is investigating the possibility of turning an adjacent structure into a hotel for teams in addition to renovating the stadium.
Despite acknowledging the project’s complexity, Naqvi maintained optimism that it could be finished in time for the competition.
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