Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, after a recent visit to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, acknowledged the significant gap between the facilities at stadiums in Pakistan and those at other international venues. During his inspection of the Gaddafi Stadium’s infrastructure, Naqvi emphasized that the responsibility for improving the facilities ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy rests with the PCB. He also noted the challenges the board would face if they decided to fully renovate the entire stadium.
Mohsin Naqvi said, “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 kar hi nahi sakta 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).”
He added further, “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.”
Despite these challenges, Naqvi remains optimistic that Gaddafi Stadium will host some of the marquee matches during next year’s Champions Trophy. According to reports, the PCB has set aside approximately PKR 17 billion for the renovation of cricket stadiums at their three main centers in preparation for the tournament.
Meanwhile, ongoing renovations at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium have prompted the PCB to move the second Test against Bangladesh to Rawalpindi. The PCB stated that it did not want to disrupt the renovation work, as it aims to have the venue fully operational in time for the Champions Trophy, which Pakistan is scheduled to host starting February 19, 2025.
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