LAHORE: In yet another quick alteration to its plans, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to move the forthcoming tri-nation series between South Africa, New Zealand, and Pakistan from Multan Cricket Stadium to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and National Stadium in Karachi.
The PCB’s frequent decision-making has sparked concerns about the consistency of its management, even though the move to the upgraded venues is a positive step. Both stadiums are currently undergoing reconstruction to meet international standards ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in February-March.
A last-minute change in the location of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) player draft, which was originally scheduled for Gwadar on January 11 but is now scheduled to begin in Lahore on January 13, is one of the major changes in the PCB’s recent history.
The domestic calendar for the 2024–25 season has also undergone a number of modifications, and within the last 11 months, several coaching and national selection positions have been redesigned.
The PCB declared in a formal declaration that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 preparations were going smoothly.
“National Bank Stadium in Karachi and Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore are almost finished and ready to host tournament matches,” a PCB statement stated on Wednesday. The board gave reporters and fans the assurance that all improvements would be finished by the deadlines.
The PCB’s trust in the preparedness of the rebuilt stadiums is demonstrated by the decision to move the tri-nation ODI series from Multan to these two locations.
The PCB emphasized that players, officials, and spectators will all enjoy top-notch experiences at the upgraded venues. The board stated that more information regarding the series will be released when it is ready.
The PCB reported that new seating has been erected across Gaddafi Stadium, increasing the stadium’s capacity to 35,000 spectators.
Two enormous digital replay displays are scheduled to be installed next week, and the stadium will also have 480 cutting-edge LED lights to enhance broadcast quality. The final week of January is when the stadium is anticipated to be opened.
Significant improvements have also been made to the National Bank Stadium, such as the addition of a new hospitality area for officials and players in the University End. In addition, two digital replay screens, 5,000 additional seats for increased comfort, and 350 LED lights have been placed to enhance broadcast visibility.
Minor touch-ups are being made to Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, including the installation of two digital replay screens, the addition of 10,000 new chairs, and improvements to the hospitality boxes. These upgrades are being made to the stadium to make sure it satisfies international requirements for upcoming events.
The audience was also reassured by the PCB that the playing surfaces have been maintained during the improvements by its curators, who are overseen by Tony Hemming. According to the PCB, “since the work started, no competitive cricket has been played in Lahore and Karachi, while Rawalpindi hosted a match late last year.”
In the meantime, a panel from the International Cricket Council (ICC) traveled to Karachi on Wednesday to assess the Champions Trophy preparations.
The team will go to National Bank Stadium to look over the tournament setup. The group will perform a thorough examination of the stadium’s ongoing construction, which will include a look at the five-story structure that is presently being built.
In advance of the event, the squad will also inspect different areas of the stadium.
