New Delhi, Jan 9 (NationPress) In light of recent reports suggesting the Champions Trophy could be moved out of Pakistan due to renovation delays at the stadiums, a PCB official assured that preparations are going ahead smoothly and all work associated with the stadiums will be finalized by the first week of February.
The Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19. This tournament, consisting of eight teams and featuring a total of 15 matches, will wrap up on March 9. The venues for the Champions Trophy include Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, and Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.
Although renovation activities, which kicked off in August of the previous year and were expected to conclude by December 31, have not yet been completed, there have been indications that the ICC plans to send a team to Pakistan for an inspection of the three stadiums. If these venues are not ready for handover by February 12, the entire tournament may be relocated to the UAE.
"All the work related to stadiums will be completed by the first week of February. Pakistan is fully prepared to host the Champions Trophy. There's no need to heed any rumors. We are dedicated to delivering our best. Some individuals are attempting to tarnish Pakistan's reputation on social media, and we are aware of their identities and motives," the PCB official stated to IANS.
In a related development, the PCB announced on Wednesday that the ODI tri-series, which includes South Africa and New Zealand, has been moved from Multan to Karachi and Lahore. This adjustment was made due to the advanced preparations at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi’s National Stadium, where six out of twelve Champions Trophy group stage matches will take place.
This event marks Pakistan's first time hosting an ICC tournament since 1996, when it co-hosted the ODI World Cup.
