Champions trophy: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced that the renewal and modernization work at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore has been completed in 117 days record time and is now set to host international matches including the ICC Champions Trophy.
PCB said in a statement that the stadium now has better facilities, new floodlights, hospitality box, more viewers’ seating capacity, electronic scoreboard and top level LED towers.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi said, “I am grateful to all those who worked day and night to prepare the stadium on time despite apprehensions and criticisms.” It was recently reported that PCB work was done I am running at least five weeks behind. The PCB has to hand over the stadium to the ICC (International Cricket Council) by 12 February as the tournament will start a week later.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will officially open the stadium during a ceremony on Friday where famous artists like Ali Zafar, Aima Baig and Arif Lohar will perform. Naqvi said, “I am particularly grateful to about 1000 workers who have made this dream possible.” The new stadium will be tested on February 8 when Pakistan and New Zealand will play the first match of the triangular series with the third team of South Africa Is.
The PCB will inaugurate the National Stadium in Karachi on 11 February in which President Asif Zardari is expected to join. Naqvi has admitted that the cost of modernization of three stadiums in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi has exceeded the initial allocated budget but said that the new state -of -the -art sites will provide good service to Pakistan cricket in future. The PCB initially allocated Rs 12 billion 80 lakhs for renewal work but the budget is said to be more than Rs 18 billion. The PCB said that no financial assistance was taken from any other source including the government for this task.
