Champions Trophy 2025: Indian fans mock PCB over Lahore's Gaddafi stadium status with 'on schedule?'?jibes
Despite skepticism about Pakistan's venue readiness for the 2025 Champions Trophy, the PCB insists renovations will be complete by January. With images showing delays, fans mock but also worry about potential tournament relocation if deadlines are missed.
It seems the only ones optimistic about the readiness of Pakistan¡¯s venues for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 are the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its die-hard supporters. While many have raised concerns regarding the progress of the ongoing construction work, with many doubting if whether it will be completed on time, the PCB insists that the stadiums will be ready by the end of January. They believe it is well ahead of the International Cricket Council¡¯s (ICC) handover date, but still many continue to remain skeptical.
However, in the past couple of weeks, the PCB was left red-faced after local journalists shared images and videos revealing the poor state of construction at several venues. This raised serious concerns if the PCB was lying and also about the fate of the Champions Trophy matches scheduled to be held in Pakistan. Some even were speculating that the entire tournament might be moved elsewhere if it won't complete on time.
Conditions of the stadiums in Pakistan
Karachi's National Stadium, which will host the tournament opener between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19, and Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium have recently made headlines as renovation work at both venues, which was supposed to be completed by December 31, is taking much longer than expected.
Despite this, the PCB, led by Mohsin Naqvi, remains confident that Pakistan will host its first global cricketing event in over 28 years. The board believes the venues will be ready well before the opening ceremony, which is scheduled just days before the first match in Karachi.
"We are on schedule to complete the renovation and upgrade of Gaddafi Stadium (in Lahore)," PCB spokesperson Sami Ul Hasan was quoted as saying by Dawn. "The venue is expected to be handed over to us by the end of the month."
And it seems like the PCB has managed to pick up the pace with the redevelopment, and despite the lingering doubts, Pakistan's stadium renovations are on track. However, with time running out, fans are on edge as the clock ticks down.
??????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??
¡ª PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) January 23, 2025
?? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?????
??? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ???
?? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ??¡ pic.twitter.com/gnoXnbALMK
Fans mock PCB
Despite the PCB's reassurances, fans, especially Indians, have mocked the board's claims about the venues being ready in time. Many Indian fans, in particular, have been trolling the PCB and Pakistan for failing to prepare the stadiums for a tournament they've known about for three years. Netizens on X (formerly known as Twitter) expressed their concerns while also mocking Pakistan for the stadiums situation.
Stadium ?? ready nahi hue time par aur champions trophy ? organise ke sapne dekhtaa hua Pakistan ?????
¡ª SHIVAM ANAND (@Shivama12112873) January 24, 2025
One wrote, "The renovation deadline for Lahore's stadium ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy has been extended again. Pakistan continues to miss targets for completing the venue on time."
The renovation deadline for Lahore's stadium ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy has been extended again. Pakistan continues to miss targets for completing the venue on time. pic.twitter.com/FTYIwBxM3Q
¡ª Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) January 25, 2025
Another wrote, "On a scale of 1-10, how much do you think Pakistan is going to embarrass themselves in front of the world with their Champions Trophy preparations? The stadium looks like it¡¯s going to host some gully cricket."
On a scale of 1-10, how much do you think Pakistan is going to embarrass themselves in front of the world with their Champions Trophy preparations? The stadium looks like it¡¯s going to host sone gully cricket#Pakistan #ChampionsTrophy2025 https://t.co/KcHSDSK59m
¡ª The Gandhi (@DeshkaBaapu) January 22, 2025
One said, "A few days to go for ICC Champions Trophy 2025. PCB has asked Pakistani players to join Gaddafi Stadium construction as part of their fitness training."
Few days to go for ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
¡ª Kisna.ramilaben ? (@Kisna179) January 24, 2025
PCB has asked Pakistani Players to join Gaddafi Stadium construction as part of Fitness Training.
??#PakistaniCricketers #iccchampionstrophy2025 #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/iiy04x9TtR
Champions Trophy ke liye aik mahine se kam time reh gaya hain aur ab tak Qaddafi Stadium Lahore tayar nahi hua hai. Players ne mazdoori shuru kar di taake jald az jald Qaddafi Stadium ko tayar kiya ja sake....!!!!???#PCB#Cricket #ChampionsTrophy2025 #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/ra1dUbv2zo
¡ª Sheheryaar Khattak ?? (@CricCrazySherry) January 23, 2025
Pakistan media is extending deadline on daily basis the fact is Gaddafi Stadium is only half complete and cannot be completed before Champions Trophy.
¡ª Ravish Bisht (@ravishbofficial) January 21, 2025
Why to play with cricket fans life.Better ICC should shift Lahore matches to some other Venue #ChampionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/4zgWAthJow
We hope pakistan will do better organise the upcoming champions trophy the News we heard that is 90 % stadium renovation work has been done so hopefully before 19th February pending work will be done and the stadium will be ready for champions trophy let's see what will do pak
¡ª Rony Daud (@RonyDaud3) January 23, 2025
About the stadiums
The last time a renovation of this scale took place was in 1996, the same year Pakistan last hosted an ICC event. In this renovation campaign, Gaddafi Stadium's capacity has been increased to 35,000, with new hospitality areas being added. Lahore and Karachi are also set to host an upcoming ODI tri-series featuring South Africa and New Zealand, in addition to Pakistan, to test the renovated venues before the Champions Trophy returns after eight years.
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Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop.
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