Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. (PCB/Twitter)
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Moshin Naqvi asked for the timely completion of the National Stadium in Karachi which will be hosting the Champions Trophy 2025. “Hosting the Champions Trophy is a big moment for Pakistan, and we want the venue to reflect that,” Naqvi said on Wednesday.
Naqvi would also suggest changes at the stadium for improvement in fan experince. “We want fans to have an uninterrupted view of the matches, so adjusting the screen placement is a priority,” he said. “Relocating the parking area will make it easier for spectators on match days.”
Earlier PCB approved the upgradation of cricket stadiums in Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, National Stadium in Karachi and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium which are the three venues selected for hosting the Champions Trophy 2025 from February 19-March 9.
“If you had a look at the stadium across the world. Hamara Stadium aur duniya ke stadium ka zameen asman ka faraq hein. None of them could qualify as an international stadium,” Pakistan chief responded sternly at the time when asked for need of upgradation for the Champions Trophy.
There weren’t enough seats are bathrooms and the view made it seem like you were watching from 500 meters away,” he would say as a response to a question by a reporter about the necessity to upgrade the seating capacity and infrastructure in stadiums.
“The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) team is working day and night. [We] will make our stadiums one of the best in the world providing basic facilities in stadiums is [our] first priority,” the PCB chief added.
Will India travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy
“No decision has been taken (yet). But our policy is that for international tours, we always seek the permission of the government. It’s up to the government to decide whether our team should go to any country or our team should not go to any country,” said BCCI vice president
Rajiv Shukla earlier this year during Test match between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur.
“In this case (also), whatever the government will decide, we will abide by that,” he added.