Pakistan’s Stadium Upgrades in Doubt as Champions Trophy Looms

KARACHI, Pakistan — With less than a month before Pakistan co-hosts the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, concerns are mounting over the readiness of key stadiums in Karachi and Lahore. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has invested 12 billion Pakistani rupees ($43 million) to upgrade the National Stadium Karachi (NSK) and Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, but construction delays threaten to derail preparations for the international cricket tournament.

The Champions Trophy, jointly hosted by the PCB and the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), is set to begin on February 19, 2025, with Pakistan facing New Zealand in Karachi. However, critical facilities, including ICC Anti-Corruption and Anti-Doping units, physio rooms, and match officials’ rooms, remain incomplete at NSK. Similar delays plague Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where new building installations are still unfinished.

Arshad Khan, General Manager at NSK, assured that work would be completed by the end of January, with the PCB taking possession of the renovated stadiums on February 5. “Progress at Gaddafi Stadium is on track, and we will meet the deadline,” Khan said. However, skepticism persists among cricket officials and fans, given the PCB’s history of mismanagement.

The PCB has faced criticism for its handling of the upgrades, with some reports suggesting the opening ceremony might be moved out of Pakistan. The board has yet to address these rumors publicly. The Champions Trophy, a prestigious ICC event, is seen as a litmus test for Pakistan’s ability to host international cricket tournaments amid ongoing security and infrastructure challenges.

Pakistan, the defending champions, are under pressure to deliver a seamless tournament. The hybrid hosting model, with matches split between Pakistan and the UAE, was designed to mitigate risks, but delays in stadium readiness could tarnish the country’s reputation as a reliable host. The PCB has not commented on contingency plans if the stadiums fail to meet ICC standards by the tournament’s start.