LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has approved the design and upgradation of three major cricket stadiums to ensure they meet international standards as Pakistan gears up to host the Champions Trophy 2025 in February. The upgrade was approved by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi during his visit to BDP Pattern’s London office, a prestigious architectural firm known for its expertise in stadium design.
The three stadiums selected for renovation are Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Karachi’s National Stadium, and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium. The PCB has allocated a substantial budget of Rs12.80 billion for these upgrades, underscoring the board’s commitment to hosting a world-class event.
During his visit to the BDP’s office, PCB Chairman Naqvi was given a detailed briefing about the stadiums’ upgradation project. BDP Pattern was founded 63 years ago and has designed over 200 stadiums globally.
In a statement, PCB Chairman Naqvi expressed his satisfaction with the proposed designs, noting that this will be the first time the venues have undergone such extensive upgrades to accommodate a significant number of cricket fans. “We are fully committed to completing the renovations before the Champions Trophy begins, and I am personally overseeing this ambitious project,” Naqvi said.
The Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025. The ICC has approved a budget of approximately $70 million for the tournament, which will cover expenses related to the support period running from February 12 to 18. This period will include warm-up matches, media activities, and promotional events.
The ICC will work closely with the PCB to determine the schedule and logistics for warm-up matches, allowing each participating team to play up to two warm-up games. These matches will be held across the three host cities: Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.
