Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium to mirror Dubai International Stadium; PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi on toes
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to revamp the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore to elevate it to upgrade it to the level of Dubai International Cricket Stadium. It is believed that PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi visited Dubai last week to have a look at the facilities of the stadium.
Naqvi reviewed the stands, dressing rooms, hospitality boxes, and the other areas inside the stadium. The officials who accompanied him took photos and the other required information. According to Cricket Pakistan, Naqvi has asked for a similar kind of work to be done at Gaddafi Stadium as well to make it a world-class stadium.
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PCB plans to transform Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium
The construction work inside the Gaddafi Stadium is set to begin on Monday (August 5) and the central building has already been demolished. The fans have raised several complaints about the lack of facilities inside Pakistan's stadiums and the PCB will be looking to enhance their experience through the revamp.
It is believed that the PCB hopes the work to be completed by December 31, 2024. The stadium will be hosting matches in the upcoming Champions Trophy in 2025 during February-March. The PCB will be hoping for the work to be completed on time to make the stadium truly memorable for the fans and the players during the marquee ICC tournament.
Pakistan's stadiums have been heavily criticized for the lack of facilities despite being a powerhouse in the world of cricket. The lack of basic facilities makes it a poor experience for the spectators and the players.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan. However, there are huge concerns over the hosting rights of the country since India is unlikely to travel to the country due to the strained political relations between the two nations.
Gaddafi Stadium is the premier cricket stadium in Pakistan
Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is the premier cricket stadium in Pakistan. The stadium has hosted several iconic matches in the past, including the 1996 World Cup final between Australia and Sri Lanka.
According to the current draft schedule, the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is set to host 8 matches in the Champions Trophy. All of India's matches including the final have been scheduled to take place in Lahore.
Rawalpindi and Karachi are the two other venues for the tournament. Pakistan will enter the tournament as defending champions, having defeated India in the final in the 2017 edition of the tournament.
Pakistan last hosted an ICC tournament in 1996 when the country jointly hosted the World Cup along with India and Sri Lanka. Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium hosted the final of the tournament. Since then, there has been no ICC tournament in Pakistan till date.
Pakistan was earlier chosen to jointly host the 2011 ODI World Cup but the ICC removed it later citing security concerns. In 2009, the Sri Lankan team bus was brutally attacked by some of the gunmen in Lahore. Luckily, the players survived but they suffered some injuries.
