Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi recently opened up on the preparations for the upcoming ICC tournament, the Champions Trophy, which is set to be played in the neighbouring nation in February-March 2025. Naqvi accepted and acknowledged the massive gap between international standards and the stadiums in Pakistan and vouched to better the facilities seeing the big tournament ahead.
Naqvi admitted that it is the responsibility of PCB to upgrade the facilities with the International Cricket Council (ICC) providing INR 12.80 billion (PRK 17 billion) for hosting the Champions Trophy 2025. “There was a world of difference between our stadiums and those in the rest of the world. In no way were they international stadiums; koi bhi stadiums internationally qualify kaar hi nhi shkta tha — na seats the, na bathrooms aur view asa tha ki aap 500 metre door se dekh rahe hai (none of them could qualify as international by any standard — there weren’t enough seats or bathrooms, and the view made it seem like you were watching from 500 meters away),” Naqvi stated.
However, the National Stadium in Karachi and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore have begun their upgradation process as they are set to host marquee matches during the tournament. “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,” he added.
It is to be noted that a plan to build a hotel nearby stadium has also been sanctioned in order to make safe and convenient travel.
Pakistan vs Bangladesh 2nd Test moved to Rawalpindi; here’s why
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier this week confirmed that the second Test of the two-match series has been moved to Rawalpindi after it was earlier scheduled to be organised behind closed doors at the National Stadium in Karachi. The Pakistan Cricket Board cited the ongoing construction at the National Stadium which needs to be ready for the Champions Trophy in 2025.
Moreover, the PCB, on Monday, August 19 announced the squad for the opening Test of the two-match series against Bangladesh. The squad has a mix of both youth and experience with Shan Masood leading the side. The red-ball captain will join the likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan among experience stars, along with Saud Shakeel Abdullah Shafique adding depth in Pakistan lineup.
Pakistan’s Playing XI vs Bangladesh for 1st Test
Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi