The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has upgraded three ICC Champions Trophy 2025 stadiums. The stadium renovation work started in October 2024 and was budgeted at approximately 12 Billion Pakistani rupees. Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the National Stadium in Karachi, and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium have been renovated for the upcoming mega event. Pakistan will host the ICC Champions Trophy, which will take place in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Dubai.
Gaddafi Stadium Renovation:
The PCB upgraded and prepared Gaddafi Stadium Lahore in a record 117 days to meet international standards and provide state-of-the-art facilities for spectators, players, and officials. According to the PCB, the spectator capacity has increased from 21,500 to over 34,000. Additionally, 480 brighter LED lights have been installed to enhance the broadcasting quality for viewers worldwide.
Two new, larger replay screens have also been installed to facilitate the spectators inside the stadium with live score updates and a better replay experience. Comfortable imported seats have been installed to further elevate the viewing experience, and fences in front of the enclosures have also been removed. New dressing rooms for players and hospitality boxes have been constructed to provide world-class facilities to fans and guests.
Moreover, two new VVIP enclosures have been added to Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, named after legendary cricketers Zaheer Abbas and Majid Khan. Although these enclosures are small, fans will have a chance to see their favourite players from a close distance as they pass through them.
National Stadium Karachi Renovation:
Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi stated that the reconstruction of the National Stadium Karachi started on September 28, 2024, and was completed on January 31, 2025. The stadium has been equipped with 5,000 new chairs, 350 advanced LED lights, and two new modern digital score screens to improve the viewing experience for spectators inside the stadium and those watching on TV.
Furthermore, the pavilion building at the National Stadium Karachi was completely demolished and rebuilt. The building now features new world-class dressing rooms for players, rooms for match officials, hospitality boxes, patrons’ enclosures, and a gallery for important personalities.
Additionally, an improved fence has been installed for spectators to enjoy a better view, and VVIP enclosures, similar to those in Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, have also been constructed. A ring road and a pedestrian bridge outside the stadium have also been built.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Renovation:
The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has undergone minor upgrades, including the installation of 10,000 new chairs for the comfort of spectators. Hospitality boxes have also been renovated, and advanced LED lights and two digital replay screens have been installed to facilitate the spectators with improved live score updates.
If we analyze the PCB’s effort to provide international standard facilities to cricket fans in Pakistan, the effort is appreciable. The people of Lahore have been provided with great international facilities, and the stadium has been revamped to match some of the world-class stadiums in cricket-loving countries.
Although questions have been raised about the standards of the National Stadium Karachi and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi has stated that the Cricket Board will work on Karachi’s stadium after the Champions Trophy and will build a brand-new stadium in Rawalpindi or Islamabad.
