With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 fast approaching, concerns are growing about Pakistan’s preparedness to host the prestigious tournament. According to a report by The Times of India, the country’s three main venues — National Stadium in Karachi, Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium — are still undergoing major construction and renovation work.
With the ICC’s handover deadline of February 12, 2025, just around the corner, doubts are increasing over whether Pakistan will be able to complete the necessary upgrades on time to meet the tournament’s requirements.
Missed Deadlines Raise Concerns
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The renovation work on these stadiums started back in August 2024, with an initial goal to finish by December 31, 2024. However, reports indicate that progress has been slower than expected, and the venues are still far from ready for the upcoming tournament. A source familiar with the situation painted a grim picture, stating that it’s not just minor refurbishments but major construction work still underway.
“It is a very disappointing picture. All three stadiums are far from ready, and it’s not renovation or refurbishment, but proper construction which is underway. There is so much work left with seats, floodlights, facilities, and even the outfield and playing surfaces,” the source told The Times of India.
Weather and Time: Major Roadblocks
Adding to Pakistan’s woes is the current weather, which isn’t conducive to rapid construction work. The source further highlighted that crucial areas like dressing rooms and enclosures require more time to meet ICC standards.
“The weather is not ideal for construction and finishing work to happen at a rapid pace. At Gaddafi, even the plaster work isn’t completed yet. And most of the time is taken by finishing work because we are talking about dressing rooms etc. They just can’t be random rooms/enclosures for an event. ICC has a checklist that needs to be met. National Stadium has decided not to completely finish the new enclosure because there is no time,” the source explained.
ICC to Conduct Status Check
With time running out, the ICC is expected to send a team to Pakistan soon to assess the status of the venues. The global cricket body is reportedly keeping a close watch on the situation and may consider moving the tournament out of Pakistan if the stadiums fail to meet the necessary criteria.
“It’s a no-brainer on what would happen if PCB misses deadlines and venues don’t meet the ICC checklist. The tournament can’t be played at semi-ready venues. The next week will give more clarity on the future, but PCB and ICC together need to pull off a miracle,” the source added.
UAE as a Contingency Option?
Given the current scenario, the possibility of the Champions Trophy being moved to the UAE is gaining traction. The report claims that informal backup discussions are already taking place in Dubai, home to the ICC’s headquarters. The UAE, which has previously stepped in to host key cricket tournaments on short notice, is being viewed as a potential fallback 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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