ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Grounds in Trouble; Will the Entire Tournament Be Shifted to UAE? Pakistan in Crisis

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Grounds in Trouble; Will the Entire Tournament Be Shifted to UAE? Pakistan in Crisis

In a surprising turn of events, Pakistan, which had insisted on hosting India’s matches for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, now faces the risk of losing the entire tournament to the UAE. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had hoped to host the tournament, but the situation with their cricket grounds is causing significant concerns.

The Situation in Pakistan’s Cricket Grounds:

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was scheduled to start in Karachi on February 19, just 40 days away. The tournament was supposed to follow a hybrid model, with India playing all of their matches (including knockout rounds, if qualified) in Dubai. Other matches were to be hosted in Pakistan’s three major stadiums in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. However, the conditions of these stadiums are far from ideal, with construction and preparations still incomplete.

Currently, several works, including concrete work, are still ongoing, and there are doubts about whether all necessary preparations will be completed in time. The progress on these tasks has been slow, leading to concerns that the entire tournament could be moved to the UAE.

Unfinished Work at Stadiums:

Reports indicate that the renovations at Pakistan’s cricket grounds are disappointing. The three stadiums are not ready for international matches, and essential infrastructure like seating, floodlights, outfields, and pitch preparation are still incomplete. The weather is also not helping speed up the work, as it is affecting construction and finishing tasks.

As per multi reports, entire Champions Trophy will be shifted from Pakistan to UAE if PCB doesn’t get their stadium ready by 25 Jan & ICC will inspect the same next week, there is still so much work to be done & chances of Pak hosting CT25 are so bleak.pic.twitter.com/2LOtyDudGx

— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) January 8, 2025

For international events, host countries are expected to hand over the stadiums to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in advance, allowing the ICC to inspect the facilities and ensure everything is up to standard. However, PCB has not yet done this.

Deadline Concerns:

If the construction work is not completed on time or if PCB misses critical deadlines, and the venues do not pass the ICC inspection, the tournament could be moved to the UAE, which is second on the list to host the event.

Amid these concerns, PCB has decided to shift the upcoming ODI triangular series involving Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa from Multan to Lahore and Karachi, as these venues are undergoing significant renovations ahead of the Champions Trophy.

Next Week’s Clarity:

More clarity is expected next week regarding the future of the tournament. ICC and PCB are working together to resolve the situation. PCB has assured that all renovations at the two venues are progressing on schedule and will be completed within the specified deadlines. However, it remains uncertain whether they will be ready in time for the tournament.

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