Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finalizes three venues for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said that condition of the three venues is not good at the moment.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalized three venues for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on April 29. However, there have been many speculations of the tournament being played in a ‘hybrid model’ to ensure India’s participation. But despite these rumors, PCB announced three venues which showcased that the whole tournament will be held in Pakistan.

The ICC Champions Trophy was last held in England in 2017 and is expected to be held in February–March 2025. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already taken a stand of not sending its team to Pakistan for the tournament.

Since then, there have been many speculations that the International Cricket Council (ICC) might use the hybrid model if the Indian side doesn’t get clearance to travel from the Indian government. However, the ICC has already stated that it will not ask any member nation to go against government policy.

It is to be noted that the previous edition of the Asia Cup, which was supposed to be held entirely in Pakistan, was played in a hybrid model as the Indian cricket team didn’t travel to Pakistan. The Men in Blue played their matches in Sri Lanka while some the remaining games were held in Pakistan.

Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi unveiled as venues for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Meanwhile, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi opened up by saying that the PCB has sent the schedule for the games in Pakistan for the next year’s ICC Champions Trophy. He added that the ICC’s security team had a very good meeting, and the PCB management will soon share the stadium upgrade plans with them.

“We’ve sent the schedule for the matches in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy. The ICC’s security team came and we had a very good meeting. They looked at arrangements here and we’ll also share stadium upgrade plans with them,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said at a press conference in Lahore.

We need to improve facilities in the stadiums: PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi

Naqvi further informed that all the three venues are currently below-average in terms of hosting any international games and they need to improve facilities in the stadiums. He added that they are a slight late but they need at least four-five months to make changes in the all three venues.

“If you look at Gaddafi , it is good but the viewing experience is not great for cricket. Football maybe, not cricket,” Naqvi said.

“We need to improve facilities in the stadiums, where there are some old problems. Karachi is in bad shape. So on May 7, we will finalise bids from international companies who will come and help us design. We are already late but we need to do these upgrades in four-five months. It will be a very tough test but we can do it.,” Naqvi concluded.

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