Champions Trophy: PCB’s plan to upgrade National Stadium Karachi revealed
Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi is eager to improve the viewer’s experience inside the stadium
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made plans to upgrade the National Bank Stadium in Karachi for the Champions Trophy 2025 which is scheduled for next year between February and March.
Mohsin Naqvi, who was elected Chairman PCB unopposed, announced to upgrade the stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi earlier this year and the work has already begun.
Naqvi attended the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 final in Karachi after which he expressed his dissatisfaction with the viewer experience. The PCB has now decided to bring the stadium up to the standards.
At first, the maps according to the proposed changes will be prepared with the measurements and the plan will be approved in a Governing Board meeting presided by Naqvi on July 6.
Once the map has been approved, the construction work will begin under which the main building will be repaired instead of being destroyed.
The media centre inside the stadium will also be relocated opposite to a new digital scoreboard that will be constructed. The hospitality boxes that are already in the stadium will be improved.
The dressing room will also be upgraded to the required and modern standards. Since it is not proposed to demolish the enclosures, the stadium capacity will remain at 32,000 spectators.
Last month, the PCB sent the schedule of next year's Champions Trophy to the ICC for final approval where it was stated that the tournament will be held in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi from February 19 to March 9.
Seven matches, including the final, will be held in Lahore. Karachi's National Stadium will host the opening match and a semi-final. There will be a total of three matches in Karachi. Rawalpindi will host five matches, including a semi-final.
There will be a total of 15 matches in the tournament with India set to play all of their matches in Lahore.
This event will mark the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year hiatus, with its last occurrence in 2017, when Pakistan emerged victorious by defeating India in the final.
The teams confirmed for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy include Pakistan (hosts), India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, England, and Bangladesh.
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