With a little over a month to go, the drama around the ICC Champions Trophy, to be hosted by Pakistan, is yet to die down.
First, following the tug-of-war between the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board, the ICC decided to adopt the hybrid model for India's matches in the tournament following the Indian board's refusal to send the Indian team to Pakistan due to security concerns. All the matches of the Men in Blue are set to be played in Dubai—a neutral venue.
And now, reports have revealed the possibility of the entire tournament being shifted out of Pakistan. The country last hosted a global tournament at home in 1996, when it co-hosted the ODI World Cup.
Why 2025 Champions Trophy could be moved out of Pakistan
Though security concerns have often dissuaded teams from travelling to the country, the reason for the fresh speculations is entirely different.
Karachi’s National Bank Stadium, Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium are scheduled to host the matches of the Champions Trophy. The renovation work, which started in August last year, was supposed to have been completed by December 31. But, according to a Times of India report, the stadiums are far from ready. The source told TOI that there are parts in the stadiums which are still under construction, and so, finishing work would take much longer. From fencing work and placement of floodlights and seats to finishing the new multi-storied enclosures that will house dressing rooms and hospitality boxes, the work is nowhere near completion, the TOI report said.
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Interestingly, the reports come amid PCB's decision to move the ODI tri-series, also involving South Africa and New Zealand, from Multan to Karachi and Lahore.
Dismissing reports of delay in construction and renovation works at the stadiums, the PCB said it has decided to relocate the upcoming tri-nation ODI series to the Gaddafi Stadium and the National Bank Stadium “given the advanced stage of preparations”. The board expressed confidence that the work is set to be completed before or around the deadlines. The renovated Gaddafi Stadium is set to be inaugurated in the last week of January.
The TOI report said that the ICC will send a team to Pakistan to inspect the three stadiums. If the venues are not ready for handover on February 12, the ICC is likely to shift the entire tournament to the UAE.
