Mohsin Naqvi, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has assured the International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation that upgrades to stadiums will be completed on schedule for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
During a meeting in Islamabad, Naqvi confirmed that renovations at all venues would be finalized before the tournament. He also emphasized that top-tier security would be provided to all participating teams, along with international-standard facilities for players and spectators alike.
The ICC delegation, which included 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 and reviewed security arrangements during their visit.
Highlighting Pakistan’s enthusiasm for cricket, Naqvi assured that fans would experience a world-class event 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, with Naqvi representing Pakistan. This budget was prepared collaboratively by ICC Chief Finance Officer Ankur Khanna and PCB Chief Finance Officer Javed Murtaza.
Recent reports suggested that the Indian cricket team might prefer to play their matches at a neutral venue instead of traveling to Pakistan. However, the PCB maintains its stance that the entire event should take place in Pakistan. During the ICC meeting in Colombo, held from July 19 to 22, the PCB delegation strongly advocated for this position.
For the eight-match tournament, the PCB has designated three venues: Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore, with all of India’s matches scheduled to occur in Lahore. The PCB has allocated Rs12.80 billion for enhancements to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi, and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium in preparation for the event.
The Champions Trophy is set to take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025.
