Indian cricket team in action. (FILE photo)
Amid the political tension, the question of India travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 continues. However, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi was optimistic that the showpiece event will be held in Pakistan and also mentioned that he is in touch with the BCCI secretary.
“Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan, we are in touch with the BCCI Secretary,” said Naqvi during a media interaction. “[We are] also in contact with the boards of the teams participating in the Champions Trophy,” he added. In the past India has not travelled to the neighbouring country for the 2023 Asia Cup hence the tournament was held in a hybrid model co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
PCB is revamping Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium for the 2025 Champions Trophy and has proposed hosting the tournament between Feb. 19 and March 5. “The basement of Gaddafi Stadium will be constructed by September 30. Each floor will be completed in a three-week period. The front building would consist of a steel structure. The main building of Gaddafi Stadium will be completed by December 31,” said Naqvi.
“Pindi Stadium will have to be completely demolished and rebuilt, the seats will be installed in the stadium before the Champions Trophy. The renovation at Karachi’s [National Stadium] will also be completed before the Champions Trophy,” he concluded.
There has been a lot of criticism of the infrastructure of the stadiums by the former pakistan players. In fact Naqvi himself acknowledged the same: “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,” during a press met.
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.
