Mohsin Naqvi, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has assured the International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation of timely completion of stadium upgrades for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
During a meeting with the ICC delegation in Islamabad, Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that the renovation work on all venues would be completed before the tournament.
He also emphasised that all participating teams would receive top-tier security, and international-standard facilities would be available for both players and spectators.
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.
The delegation also reviewed security arrangements during the visit.
He highlighted Pakistan’s passion for cricket, ensuring that fans would enjoy a world-class experience during the Champions Trophy.
A few months ago, at the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) annual meeting in Colombo, the budget for the 2025 Champions Trophy was officially approved.
According to a local media report, this approval was granted on the final day of the meeting.
Pakistan, the host nation for the event, was represented by Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi, who was present at the meeting.
The budget was meticulously prepared by ICC Chief Finance Officer Ankur Khanna and PCB Chief Finance Officer Javed Murtaza.
Recent reports suggested that the Indian cricket team might play their matches at a neutral venue, rather than traveling to Pakistan.
However, the PCB is firm in its position that the entire event should be staged in Pakistan.
The ICC meeting in Colombo, held from July 19 to 22, saw the PCB delegation advocating strongly for this stance.
The PCB has designated three venues for the eight-match tournament: Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. According to the PCB’s proposed schedule, all of India’s matches are set to take place in Lahore.
Additionally, the PCB has allocated Rs12.80 billion for the enhancement of the three stadiums: Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi, and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium.
These upgrades are planned in preparation for the marquee event.
The Champions Trophy is scheduled to run from February 19 to March 9, 2025.
