Pakistan looks all set to host the Champions Trophy 2025 starting on February 19. If all goes to plan, this will be the first ICC event to be hosted on Pakistan soil since the 1996 World Cup. Fans from around the world are captivated and are gearing up to see an intense showdown in this marquee event which will feature eight teams who will be battling it out to reach the top summit. 

But as per recent reports, not all seems to be going well for Pakistan ahead of the mega event. If reports are to be believed, the stadium renovation work is progressing at a snail's pace, and with the Champions Trophy fast approaching, fresh concerns have once again surfaced regarding the future of the mega white-ball event.

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Stadium degradation work far from complete

As per the latest report published by Times of India (TOI), currently, three venues in Pakistan are undergoing renovation work. These include the National Stadium in Karachi, Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, and Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. It is believed that the deadline to complete renovation work was set to December 31, 2024. The deadline has now surpassed and with just over a month to go before the tournament kicks off, PCB have a lot of catching up to do. 

An anonymous source from the ICC has claimed that the stadium degradation work is far from complete and the global cricketing body has raised concerns with the PCB about the same. Furthermore, ICC is expected to send a dedicated team to oversee the renovation progress and take stock of the situation too.

"It is a very disappointing picture. All three stadiums are far from ready and it's not renovation or refurbishment, but proper construction which is underway. There is so much work left with seats, floodlights, facilities, and even the outfield and playing surfaces." 

The renovation work started as early as August last year. But PCB has so far not been able to complete the construction work in time which raises severe concerns on whether Pakistan will be able to host the Champions Trophy. But at the same time, it is also learnt that the PCB expects the work to be complete and will hand over the venues to the ICC no later than February 12, 2025.

So what's causing all the hold up?

Apparently, the current weather conditions in Pakistan are not suited for any construction work at the moment. With the Champions Trophy around the corner, a roadblock like this was the last thing Pakistan would have wished for. 

As per an ICC source who wishes to be anonymous, the plasterwork in Gaddafi Stadium remained unfinished and has been largely hampered due to the cold weather conditions. The source also claims that most of the time is taken up by applying finishing touches to places like change rooms etc that need to adhere strictly to the ICC regulations.

"The weather is not ideal for construction and finishing work to happen at a rapid pace. At Gadaffi, even the plaster work isn't completed yet. And most of the time is taken by finishing work because we are talking about dressing rooms etc. They just can't be random rooms/enclosures for an ICC event. ICC has a checklist which needs to be met. National Stadium has decided to not completely finish the new enclosure because there is no time."