The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to begin on February 19, with the final scheduled for March 9. The tournament will feature eight teams competing in 15 matches. In Pakistan, games will be held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi’s National Bank Stadium. However, India’s Champions Trophy matches are slated to take place in Dubai.
Despite reports suggesting the possibility of the tournament being moved out of Pakistan due to delays in stadium renovations, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official has assured that preparations are on track. The official stated that all work on the venues will be completed by the first week of February, well ahead of the February 12 deadline for the ICC’s inspection team.
Renovation work on the stadiums began in August last year and was initially expected to conclude by December 31. However, delays in completion have fueled speculation about the tournament’s relocation to the UAE if the venues are not ready in time. Addressing these concerns, the PCB official emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to hosting the event successfully and dismissed the rumors as baseless.
“All the work related to the stadiums will be done by the first week of February. Pakistan will successfully host the Champions Trophy. No need to go by any rumors,” the official said, adding that efforts to tarnish Pakistan’s image on social media were being noted. “We know who all they are and why they are doing this,” the official remarked, as quoted by IANS.
The ICC Champions Trophy is a highly anticipated event, and fans worldwide await confirmation that Pakistan will retain hosting rights as preparations progress.
