Champions Trophy 2025: PCB races against time as Karachi stadium's renovation remains incomplete

The mega event of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Champions Trophy 2025 is all set to be played in Pakistan and the UAE. The Green Shirts will want to make the most of this situation as they will be hosting an ICC event after 29 years since they hosted the 1996 ODI World Cup.

There were some issues between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which was finally resolved as the former finally agreed on the hybrid model with all the Indian matches to be played in the UAE. Pakistan are one of the top three ranked teams in ODI Cricket right now and will also go into this event as the defending champions. The tournament will be starting on February 19, as the hosts will kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Karachi.

In the same vein, the National Stadium of the renowned city was set to be the venue where the competition would start but it turns out that some problems have come at the venue as the renovation works on the ground are still incomplete. Notably, earlier, a two-match Test series against West Indies to be played at home was shifted from Karachi to Multan. One of the officials of the PCB has also issued a statement as well.

"Due to the ongoing construction and renovation work, it was decided against holding any matches at the NSK as it would only further delay the work and also disturb the players," said the official as quoted by India Today.

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As far as the constructions are concerned, the PCB has executed the renovations across three other venues along with the prime venues for the CT 2025 in the form of Rawalpindi and Lahore, respectively, The overall cost of the constructions done so far was estimated at a staggering INR 12 billion. This included the renovations for dressing rooms, hospitality boxes board offices, the main building of the National Stadium and media centres. Besides, digital scoreboard and chairs around the fencing areas are also to be installed in the allotted budget.

Pakistan lost first Test in a close shave

Meanwhile, speaking of Pakistan, they are currently touring South Africa. They will be clashing with the hosts in the second and final Test of the series, starting on January 3. This will be a chance for the visitors to draw the series and come back after suffering a narrow loss in the Boxing Day Test at Centurion by two wickets.