'Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium Ready For Champions Trophy'- PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has announced that Lahore's Gaddafi stadium is ready to host International Cricket once again including the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. The venue will host the first match of the ODI tri-series comprising of Pakistan, South Africa & New Zealand.
In a statement, the PCB highlighted that the rebuilt stadium now features enhanced facilities, upgraded floodlights, modern hospitality boxes, increased seating capacity, electronic scoreboards, and state-of-the-art LED towers.

PCB Chief on CT Preparations

"I'm elated & grateful at the same time to all the people who have worked day in & day out all these days to get the venue ready in a record 117 days, despite all the criticizm" PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi said.

Recent updates suggest that PCB is five weeks behind in completing the scheduled renovations of the venue, the PCB has to now hand over the venue to the ICC by Feb 12 one week before the tournament.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will officially inaugurate the stadium on Friday during a special ceremony, featuring live performances by renowned artists Ali Zafar, Aima Baig, and Arif Lohar.

Naqvi Thanked The Workers

"I'm grateful to the 1000 workers who worked a day in & out to complete the renovations", Naqvi also promised a viewing experience for the spectators with better seats & removal of fencing from the ground"

The newly constructed stadium will host its first match on February 8, featuring Pakistan and New Zealand in the opening game of a tri-series that also includes South Africa.

A similar Inauguration ceremony is expected for the inauguration of the National Stadium in Karachi with President Asif Zardari to attend.

Naqvi accepted that the budget for upgrading the stadiums in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi exceeded the budget at the initial stage but also quipped that these renovations & modern materials placed inside the venue will help the Pakistan Cricket Board in the longer run.

Initially, the PCB had allocated 12.8 billion rupees for the renovations; however, the total expenditure has reportedly crossed the 18 billion rupee mark.

The PCB clarified that the entire project was funded internally, without any financial assistance from the government or external sources.