As Pakistan prepares to host the 2025 Champions Trophy in February, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a significant step forward by approving the design and upgrade plans for three major stadiums.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has given the green light for renovations at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Karachi’s National Stadium, and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium, ensuring they meet international standards for the upcoming tournament.
Ad Powered By Advergic
Loading ad . . .
Ad - Continue scrolling to read
The approval came during Chairman Naqvi’s visit to the London head office of BDP Pattern, a renowned architectural firm based in the United Kingdom. During his visit, Naqvi met with BDP Chairman Chris Harding and other senior officials to discuss the detailed plans for the stadium upgrades. BDP Pattern, with a legacy of designing around 200 stadiums worldwide, is known for its expertise in creating venues that meet international standards, having secured over 1,000 design quality awards.
The firm has designed stadiums such as the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi as well as the official stadium of Premier League football club Everton.
The PCB has allocated Rs12.80 billion for the comprehensive renovation of the three venues. This investment aims to enhance the facilities and infrastructure to accommodate a large number of fans and ensure a world-class experience. The renovations are scheduled to be completed ahead of the tournament, which is proposed to take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025.
In addition to the PCB’s efforts, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a budget of approximately $70 million for the Champions Trophy 2025. This budget will cover expenses incurred during the support period, scheduled from February 12 to 18, which includes warm-up matches, media activities, and promotional events.
The ICC, in consultation with all participating teams, will decide on the warm-up matches, which will be held across the three host cities: Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.
During his visit to BDP’s office, Chairman Naqvi expressed his satisfaction with the proposed designs and emphasized the importance of the project. “This is the first time our arenas are being upgraded to cater to such a large number of cricket fans,” Naqvi stated. He highlighted his personal involvement in supervising the project, reaffirming the PCB’s commitment to completing the renovations before the Champions Trophy.