ICC Champions Trophy is going to start from 19th February in Pakistan and UAE. After several weeks of controversy, the clouds hanging over the tournament finally cleared. But still one tension still continues regarding the tournament and that is the condition of the stadiums of Pakistan. In Pakistan, the tournament matches are to be organized in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi but the stadiums are not completely ready yet. In such a situation, Pakistan Cricket Board has announced change in the venue. But this change has happened not for the Champions Trophy, but for the triangular ODI series to be held before that.

Just before the Champions Trophy, a triangular ODI series is to be played in Pakistan, in which apart from host Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa will also participate. This series will start from 8th February and 4 matches including the final will be played in it. This tournament was earlier to be organized in Multan Cricket Stadium but now the Pakistani board has shifted these four matches to Lahore and Karachi. Both of these are also venues for the Champions Trophy. PCB announced this change on Wednesday 8 January.

Actually, PCB has taken this decision so that it can show the world that both the venues will be fully prepared for the Champions Trophy. Two of the three most important venues for the Champions Trophy, the National Stadium Karachi and Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, have been being renovated for the last several months. PCB is getting this work done to provide modern facilities and needs to both these stadiums. But the condition of both these venues is not looking very good at present and it is feared that the work in both these stadiums will not be completed by the deadline of January 25.

Gaddafi Stadium (yesterday)
Finishing deadline 25 January #ChampionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/JcI32tZZ3K

— Sohail Imran (@sohailimrangeo) January 7, 2025

PCB said in its press release that the seating capacity of Gaddafi Stadium is being increased to 35 thousand and seats have been installed. Apart from this, the board also said that LED lights and big digital screens have also been installed, so that the spectators can easily see the replays. Regarding Karachi Stadium also, PCB claimed in the press release that 5000 thousand new seats have been installed there, while 2 digital screens have also been installed. Apart from this, players dressing rooms and VIP boxes are also being built in both the stadiums.

Gaddafi Stadium Main Building (yesterday) #ChampionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/tQaUiAcp24

— Sohail Imran (@sohailimrangeo) January 7, 2025

However, reports coming from both the venues as well as reports and videos coming from Lahore and Karachi are confirming that the renovation work is lagging far behind. In the video taken a day before from Gaddafi Stadium, it is clearly visible that not a single seat has been installed, while the flood lights are also not completely ready. Apart from this, the building being constructed in the stadium is also incomplete, which will house everything from dressing room to PCB headquarters. At the same time, the situation is still similar in Karachi Stadium, where the building being built along with the stadium is far from being completely ready. However, PCB claims that everything will be ready by the deadline.