ICC Annoyed With PCB’s Karachi Stadium Renovation Ahead Of Champions Trophy

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) struggled to meet the deadlines for the stadium renovation ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. It will begin on February 19 at the National Stadium in Karachi as the home side will face New Zealand in the competition opener.

PCB has worked hard to prepare the three big venues—Karachi, the Rawalpindi Stadium, and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore—which will host the group games.

ICC is frustrated at PCB’s LED screen placement in Karachi

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made some key upgrades to enhance the experience of the spectators who will be watching the games in the venue. It is always important for fans to find the best environment on the ground for enjoyment of the games.

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However, the ICC has expressed its dissatisfaction and rebuked the PCB for installing the structures at the Karachi Stadium, as it would disrupt the fans’ experience of watching the action.

For the enhancement of the fan experience, the PCB decided to build two gigantic LED screens at the National Stadium in Karachi. But the placement of the screens has not been in the right position. It could hamper a fan’s view of the surface, and the upgrades didn’t sit well with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

They have summoned the PCB for going super extravagant with the upgrades and potentially disrupting the fans’ view of the 22-yard instead of improving them.

PCB walks on thin ice regarding fan’s experience

The Pakistani board has already fought hard to get the rights of the eight-team tournament. The PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi wanted to host the entire portion of the event at home, besides all the group-stage clashes for India.

However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wrote a letter to the PCB and the world governing body to inform them their decision of not to tour to the other side of the border for the tournament due to the political relationships between the two sides. The last trip for the Blue Brigade in Pakistan was back in the 2008 Asia Cup while the last bilateral game between the two sides happened in 2012.

PCB wasn’t prepared to accept the hybrid model at the initial stage, but they had to accept it after ICC made the regulation that none of the teams would trip each other in the future in the next three years.

That rules out India’s chances to host Pakistan in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. The Rohit Sharma-led side will play all of their games in the Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

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The recent reports of Revsportz have claimed that the ICC reportedly took up the giant scree issue and instructed PCB for full reimbursement during the Karachi Stadium’s upgradation. They landed on thin ice with the decisions and it wasn’t the first time.

Pakistan to open new stadium with tri-nation series

All the stadiums have completed the upgrade. The nation will see the Gaddafi Stadium of Lahore getting into action during the first game of the upcoming tri-series among Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa.

The four-match series will be preparation for the teams before the Champions Trophy. Pakistan vs South Africa encounter will be the first at the National Stadium after its upgradation. It ground will also host the tri-series final. Since the upgradation started, Multan hosted four of the last five Tests against England and West Indies.