The International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation lands in Karachi to inspect preparations for the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With the tournament kicking off on February 19, the ICC delegation will conduct a wide-ranging review of the Karachi National Stadium to ensure everything is in top shape for the grand event.
Among the key aspects under inspection is the ongoing construction of a five-story building at the National Stadium, which will be crucial for the tournament’s infrastructure. The ICC delegation will also examine various sections of the stadium to make sure they meet the high standards required for hosting the prestigious Champions Trophy 2025.
ICC delegation arrives in Karachi for inspection ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Actually, the opening ceremony of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to take place at Karachi’s National Stadium on February 19, and on the same day and at the same venue, Pakistan will face New Zealand in the tournament opener. Notably, Pakistan is entering into the mega event as the defending champions.
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The Karachi National Stadium will host a total of three thrilling matches during the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. Even before the prestigious tournament, the cricket stadium will host two matches of the upcoming Tri-nation One Day International series, excluding the final.
Meanwhile, the Karachi visit of the ICC delegation is part of a series of important inspections leading up to the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is set to be hosted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in Pakistan and the UAE—only India’s matches in the tournament.
ICC sends third delegation to Pakistan for inspection
It started with David Maskell, the ICC’s Head of Security, David Maskell, followed by Senior Manager of Event Operations Sarah Edgar and Manager Aun Zaidi, who have reviewed the preparations. The latest and third visit was carried out by Manager Aun Zaidi, along with Broadcasting Supervisor Mansoor Minch, to make sure everything is ready before the Champions Trophy 2025 gets underway.
Well, the countdown for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 already begins, with the deadline for submitting preliminary squads set for January 12. All the participating eight teams need to finalize their initial squads by midnight on February 11, and they can also make changes to their preliminary squads without needing ICC approval until February 11.
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On the other hand, there are growing concerns about the readiness of the three major stadiums in Pakistan—Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi—for the tournament.
Social media videos have shown that the stadiums are far from being ready, with reports claiming that work on seats, floodlights, facilities, and even the playing surfaces is incomplete.
Even plasterwork remains unfinished, raising doubts about whether the venues will be ready in time for the prestigious tournament. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has dismissed these concerns.
In response, the PCB reassured everyone that preparations for the Champions Trophy 2025 are on track, with renovations at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and National Bank Stadium in Karachi expected to be completed by the set deadlines.