Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi after a recent trip to Lahore for a visit of Gaddafi Stadium, accepted the vast difference in stands between stadium in Pakistan and other itnernational venues.
Naqvi visited Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium to check the infrastructure and said the responsibility to improve the facilities, ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy, lies with the PCB. He also pointed out the challenges the Pakistan board would face if the entire stadium were to be renovated.
“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 kaar hi nhi shkta 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),” Naqvi said.
“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,” he added.
The PCB chief remains hopeful that the Gaddafi Stadium will host some marquee clashes next year during the Champions Trophy.
According to reports, PCB has allocated approximately PKR 17 billion for renovating cricket stadiums at their three main centers ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Meanwhile, the ongoing renovation of the National Bank Stadium in Karachi has forced the Pakistan Cricket Board to move the second test against Bangladesh to Rawalpindi.
The PCB said it did not want to interrupt the renovation work at the stadium because it wanted the venue to be operationally ready for the Champions Trophy in time. Pakistan is due to host the Champions Trophy from Feb. 19, 2025.
Karachi is also due to host one of the three test matches against England in October, but the PCB said it will continue to work closely with the architects and construction experts.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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