ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Is Pakistan ready? Conditions of Lahore, Karachi & Rawalpindi stadiums casts clouds of doubt

The construction work at the three stadiums for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi is going behind schedule, thus putting a big question mark on the readiness of the venues before the stipulated time. Pakistan, who is hosting a marquee ICC event for the first time in 30 years, was initially working with a December 31, 2024 deadline.

With lots of work pending, the deadline was extended to January 25. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is however confident of getting all the work done withing the given deadline ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. But things look different from outside. According to a Times of India report, all the three stadiums are far from ready as a proper construction is underway.

The report further pointed out that the weather isn’t ideal for construction, which is why the the delay. The plaster work at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore is yet to be completed, the report further added.

Among other unfinished works, two giant digital replay screens will be installed next week at the Gaddafi Stadium while a new players and officials hospitality enclosure will also be functional in January last week. The PCB has initially allocated 17 billion Pakistani rupees for the upgrading the thee venues for the Champions Trophy 2025.

Viral video shows Gaddafi Stadium’s progress

In a video, that has gone viral on social media, it shows that construction work is going on, almost from scratch. Construction tools, bricks, ladders, cement and vehicles can be spotted in the video. It also stated that more than 250 workers are being deployed at the Gaddafi Stadium to make it ready before the January 25 deadline.

For the unknown, India will be playing all their Champions Trophy game in Dubai. If India manage to qualify for the semifinal and final, they will continue to play in Dubai.