Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi visited the National Stadium Karachi on Saturday to review the progress of the ongoing construction work ahead of the highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025.
During a media conference, Naqvi provided updates on the improvements being made to the stadium, emphasizing the completion of critical infrastructure in preparation for the prestigious event.
"A building is under construction and is in the final stages of completion. Parking facilities for 2,700 vehicles are being developed around the area. The stadium's fences are being replaced to ensure there will be no obstruction of the view," Naqvi said.
The PCB chief also announced the installation of advanced LED lights and a new screen, which is expected to be operational by January 25, 2025.
"The installation of LED lights is underway, and the new screen will be in place by January 25," he confirmed.
He also praised the efforts behind the upgrades at National Stadium Karachi.
"Extremely swift work has been done in a short period of time, and the upgrade of National Stadium Karachi will be completed before the Champions Trophy tournament. Facilities are being enhanced for cricket fans, and I congratulate the entire team for their outstanding and rapid work," he said.
The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 will be held in Pakistan, with knockout-stage matches, including the final, played at a neutral venue if India qualifies.
Regarding the decision on the neutral venue, Naqvi stated, "A decision on what constitutes a neutral venue will be made tomorrow. Karachi will receive good news regarding the Champions Trophy."
He also addressed questions about the ongoing construction and hinted at further developments in the coming months.
"The new stadium building will be ready in a month. Work will continue here in January," he added.
Naqvi also revealed that the opening match of the Pakistan-West Indies Test series, which will take place in Karachi, might be relocated. However, he hinted at the possibility of one of the tri-series matches being hosted at the venue.
"The West Indies Test match might be moved from Karachi. A match of the tri-nation series could be held here [in Karachi] before the Champions Trophy," he said.
On Monday, Jason Gillespie revealed the reasons behind his resignation as the red-ball head coach of Pakistan's cricket team.
In a recent interview with Australian media, Gillespie shared that being left in the dark regarding High-Performance Coach Tim Nielsen’s situation was the tipping point for his departure. He expressed concerns about the diminishing purpose of his role in Pakistan’s cricket setup.
In response to queries regarding Jason Gillespie’s resignation, Naqvi provided clarity on the matter.
"The head coach's job is to coach, while the selection committee's job is to select players. The head coach was part of the selection committee but did not have full authority over selections," Naqvi explained.
Faizan Lakhani Faizan Lakhani is Deputy Editor (Sports) at Geo News.