PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi dispelled all doubts about Pakistan’s readiness to host the Champions Trophy, starting from February 19, and confirmed that venues in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi were ready to host the marquee ODI tournament. The Champions Trophy will return for the first time since 2017, featuring the world’s top eight cricketing teams.
Despite eyebrows being raised due to ongoing construction and renovations at the venues in Karachi and Rawalpindi, Naqvi seemed pretty confident in the country’s capabilities of hosting the Champions Trophy. “There have been voices, even from across the border, suggesting that the Champions Trophy might be taken out of Pakistan due to venue readiness. I can confidently announce that we are prepared for both the tri-series and the Champions Trophy,\” he said here at the newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium.
The Gaddafi Stadium is due to be inaugurated on February 7, and though Naqvi maintained some work would remain at the National Stadium in Karachi and Rawalpindi Stadium past the tournament, all that is needed to be done to provide a top-class viewing experience will be complete by the time the National Stadium is inaugurated on February 11. “Facilities for teams, officials, broadcasters, and media have all been upgraded and are complete,” Naqvi assured.
The inaugural function of the tournament will be held in Lahore on February 16. However Naqvi also said that “logistical problems” may also deny ICC staging a captains conference or photo-shoots on account of participating teams’ cramped travelling schedules.
Naqvi said the cost of upgrading and renovating the three stadiums had overshot the initial estimate of 12 billion rupees, but he expected to make a recovery on it. “We have asked the ICC not to provide us with the normal tickets and passes the host country gets and instead get the equivalent cost,” he said.
Emphasizing on transparency, Naqvi said the funds spent on renovating the stadium were from the cricket board’s own resources, sans any government financial aid. “While there was criticism during the renovation process, we welcomed constructive feedback which helped us in achieving our objectives,” he added.
He further claimed that top officials from various cricket boards, including India, were invited to the key events that will take place during the tournament, such as the inauguration and the finals: “We are expecting a number of board officials and sports ministers from various countries during the event.”.
Naqvi also dismissed concerns over the quality of the new seating at Gaddafi Stadium, saying that the chairs, manufactured in China, had a 20-year warranty and were cheaper than the previous ones, hence within the budget. “We did not overshoot our budget,” he added.
