The International Cricket Council (ICC) is facing a problem ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. According to reports in the Times of India, it has been learned that the inability of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to complete construction work at the venues has exacerbated the problem. Place the body under the scanner.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is just around the corner and the tournament schedule has been released. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to complete renovation work on three stadiums in Pakistan where the tournament will be held.
The ICC has given time till February 12 to the Pakistan Cricket Board to complete the renovation of the grounds for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Construction work on Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and National Stadium in Karachi is in a race against time. According to reports, the ICC has given time till February 12 to the Pakistan Cricket Board to complete the renovations, but with the way things are going, there is no positive development.
The Pakistan Cricket Board began renovation work in August and the work was scheduled to be completed by 31 December. However, they are nowhere close to him. This has worried the ICC, especially since they are facing a lot of criticism over the infrastructure of the venues during the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
All three stadiums are not ready yet, and it is not a question of renovation or refurbishment, but of proper construction, which is currently underway – ICC source
An ICC source has expressed disappointment that the PCB has not completed renovations for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, saying three stadiums are not yet ready. He referred to leaving work and while speaking to the Times of India, he explained:
“It's a very disappointing picture. All three stadiums are not ready yet, and it's not a matter of refurbishment or refurbishment, but proper construction, which is currently underway. There's a lot of work remaining in terms of seating, floodlights, facilities and even the pitch and playing surfaces.”
“The weather is not ideal to get the construction and finishing work done at a fast pace. In Gaddafi, even the plaster work is not completed yet. Most of the time it takes to finish the work because we are talking about dressing rooms etc. It cannot be random rooms/annexes for an ICC event. The court has “The ICC has a checklist that must be met and the National Stadium has decided not to finish the entire new enclosure because there is no time.”
The tournament cannot be played on semi-prepared stadiums – ICC source
The ICC source also added that if the PCB misses the deadlines and the venues do not meet the ICC checklist, the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will be moved out of Pakistan. He said matters regarding the venues would be clarified next week. He added:
“It is a no-brainer as to what could happen if the PCB misses the deadlines and the venues do not meet the ICC's checklist. The tournament cannot be played in semi-ready venues. Next week will give more clarity on the future but the PCB and ICC together need To achieve a miracle.”
It is also learned that ICC officials will visit Pakistan by the end of January to conduct a status check on the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, and informal contingency discussions are taking place in the corridors of Dubai.
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