On Monday, Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has called upon his country to begin the process of improving its cricket grounds ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
In remarks made earlier this month, Naqvi seemed to be acknowledging the enormous differences that exist between Pakistani venues and internationally accepted prerequisites which should be put in place for a successful hosting of a global event.
According to him, no stadium in Pakistan meets any international standard; they are all deficient in many respects.
“We had nothing like their stadiums around here. There were no seats or toilets and it looked like you were watching from 500 meters away,” he said. “Therefore, we need modern facilities that are compatible with global sports infrastructure.”
The Lahore Gaddafi Stadium, Karachi National Stadium and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium are being upgraded by PCB as part of its ambitious redevelopment plan.
The renovation will cost Rs 12.8 billion ($85 mln), and is expected to bring these stadiums up to par with international standards before next year’s championship tournament between February and March.
While visiting Gaddafi stadium yesterday to see how far work had gone on, he was confident that these improvements would be completed within the given time frame.
The Frontier Works Organization (FWO) received accolades from Mr Naqvi for working tirelessly day and night. ”We will make our stadiums among some of the best globally.Basics facilities at stadia is first priority”
Beside such upgrading programs, PCB is also considering turning nearby building into a hotel for teams. Although he admitted that this venture could be complex, Naqvi still expressed optimism about completing it before commencement of this competition.
