Media365
NEW DELHI: Pakistan unveiled a renovated stadium for the ICC Champions Trophy in Lahore on Friday, one of three venues for its first major international cricket tournament in nearly three decades.
The Champions Trophy, featuring eight teams, will run from February 19 to March 9 across Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.
India’s matches will be played in the United Arab Emirates following their decision not to play in Pakistan.
The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore completed its 117-day renovation, featuring new LED floodlights, larger scoreboards, upgraded hospitality boxes, and improved seating arrangements.
A preparatory tri-nation series between Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa is scheduled to begin at the stadium on Saturday.
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“We are going to show the world that we are good hosts,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said at the opening ceremony.
Pakistan’s last major tournament was the 1996 World Cup, which it co-hosted with India and Sri Lanka.
The country then faced a long break from hosting international matches due to security concerns.
A 2009 militant attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore resulted in eight deaths and injuries to several players, leading to an extended period without international cricket in Pakistan.
The primary concern for the upcoming Champions Trophy has been the timely completion of stadium renovations.
The Pakistan Cricket Board initially promised to complete Lahore’s stadium by January end.
The National Bank Stadium in Karachi is set to host the tournament’s opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand in less than two weeks.
Local media reports indicated that Karachi’s renovation missed three deadlines between December 15 and January 25, before setting a final completion date of January 31.
Construction work was still ongoing in Karachi as of Thursday.
“The sounds of the hammers and the iron rods and drill machines still reverberated across the empty stands,” the English-language Dawn newspaper said.
“It’s true that the work isn’t completed, but it’s well in its finishing stages.”
President Asif Ali Zardari is scheduled to open the Karachi stadium on Tuesday.
The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium continues to undergo preparations, with workers painting seats in Pakistan’s national green color and installing a scoreboard near Islamabad.
Cricket holds significant importance in Pakistan’s national identity and political landscape.
The current PCB chair Mohsin Naqvi serves as interior minister, while former cricket star Imran Khan transitioned from sports to become prime minister.
“I want to congratulate everyone, this is a victory for the entire nation,” Naqvi told reporters before the Lahore stadium opening.
