With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 fast approaching, concerns are growing about Pakistan's readiness to host the prestigious tournament. According to a report by The Times of India, the country's three main venues – the National Stadium in Karachi, the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – are still undergoing major construction and renovation work.
With the ICC submission deadline of February 12, 2025 just around the corner, doubts are mounting whether Pakistan will be able to carry out the necessary improvements in time to meet the demands of the tournament.
Missed deadlines raise concerns
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Renovation work at these stadiums began in August 2024, with an initial target of completion by 31 December 2024. However, reports indicate that progress has been slower than expected and the venues are still far from being ready for the next tournament. A source familiar with the situation painted a grim picture, stating that it is not just minor renovations, but major construction works still underway.
“It is a very disappointing picture. All three stadiums are far from ready, and it is not renovation or renovation, but proper construction that is underway. A lot of work remains on the seats, floodlights, facilities, even the outfield and playing surfaces,” the source told The Times of India.
Weather and weather: Major road blocks
Adding to Pakistan's difficulties is the current weather, which is not conducive to rapid construction work. The source further pointed out that crucial areas such as dressing rooms and enclosures require more time to meet ICC standards.
“The weather is not ideal for construction and finishing works to be done at a fast pace. At Gaddafi, even the plaster work is not finished yet. And most of the time is taken up by finishing work because we are talking about locker rooms and so on. They just can't be random rooms/chokes for an event. ICC there is a checklist that needs to be completed. The National Stadium has decided not to fully complete the new closure because there is no time,” the source explained.
ICC to perform status check
With time running out, the ICC is expected to send a team to Pakistan soon to assess the status of the countries. The global cricket body is said to be closely monitoring the situation and may consider moving the tournament out of Pakistan if the stadiums do not meet the necessary criteria.
“It's a no-brainer what would happen if the PCB misses deadlines and countries fail to meet the ICC checklist. The tournament cannot be played on half-finished sites. Next week will give more clarity on the future, but the PCB and ICC together should pull off a miracle,” added the source.
UAE as a contingency option?
Given the current scenario, the possibility of the Champions Trophy shifting to the UAE is gaining traction. The report claims that informal backup discussions are already taking place in Dubai, home of the ICC headquarters. The United Arab Emirates, which has previously taken part in hosting key cricket tournaments at short notice, is being seen as a possible return option.
With the ICC unlikely to lower the quality of its main events, a last-minute shift to the UAE could happen if Pakistan's construction delays continue to pose challenges.
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