With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 just over two weeks away, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is working hard to ensure venues in Lahore and Karachi are ready for the upcoming prestigious tournament. The International Cricket Council (ICC) handed the hosting rights to the PCB three years ago, but still, they haven’t completed their preparations for the Champions Trophy 2025.
Renovation work is still underway at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi’s National Stadium, but the Pakistan Cricket Board is confident that the venues will be ready for the upcoming Tri-Nation ODI Series, featuring South Africa and New Zealand, starting February 8.
PCB confident Lahore and Karachi will be ready for the Tri-Nation ODI Series ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
This Tri-Nation ODI series was originally set to take place in Multan, but the PCB shifted it to Lahore and Karachi to test the facilities before the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after getting permission from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
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It is being said that the world’s governing body has made an exception to its usual “exclusivity period” which is generally three weeks before the start of the ICC tournament period to allow the Tri-Nation ODI series to take place in Lahore and Karachi.
The PCB sought permission from the ICC regarding the same, and the board authorized the hosts to use the Champions Trophy 2025 venues for the upcoming ODI matches. Well, the ICC’s support period for the tournament begins on February 12, but full control of the venues will only be handed over after the conclusion of the tri-series in Pakistan.
ICC made an exception for Pakistan in its exclusivity window
On the other hand, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which will host all of India’s matches in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, including knockouts if the Men in Blue advance, will be handed over to the ICC from February 10 as the ILT20 2025 matches will be held at the venue.
A close source to the development was quoted as saying by Times of India: “Hosts may seek approval from ICC for activities to take place in venues within the exclusivity window; PCB has followed the process, and the ICC has authorized this for the exclusivity period for testing of the venues. Similarly, the Dubai stadium is also being used during the exclusivity period for the ILT20.”
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Notably, the ICC follows a strict checklist to ensure that all venues meet its required standards before every multi-nation tournament, as any necessary changes will be made according to these criteria. This includes setting up signage and branding and ensuring that sponsor activations are in place before the first match of the tournament.
ICC satisfied with PCB’s preparations for Champions Trophy 2025
Well, the ICC is closely monitoring the progress in Pakistan for the upcoming tournament. Last week, two senior officials, Wasim Khan (General Manager) and Sarah Edgar (Senior Manager of Event Operations), had an inspection of the CT 2025 venues in Pakistan. They reviewed the status of the venues and shared their report with the global body.
The source signed off by saying, “Following several inspection visits across all venues, the ICC is satisfied that they are on track for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy.”
