Gaddafi Stadium's revamp for Champions Trophy in full swing

Pakistan’s cricket chief Mohsin Naqvi made a late-night visit to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore to assess the ongoing renovations.

And then during a media briefing on Sunday night, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman discussed various aspects of Pakistan cricket, focusing on the stadium upgrades in preparation for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and the captaincy of the men's white-ball cricket team.

Renovation at Gaddafi Stadium

Regarding the ongoing renovations at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, Naqvi shared that all the enclosures have been demolished, and work is progressing under the supervision of NESPAK and the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).

The project operates in three shifts, and Naqvi is optimistic they will meet the December 31 deadline.

"The work is substantial, but I am confident we will complete it on time," Naqvi said.

Naqvi added that the installation of the roof was scheduled for September 30, and though he hadn't visited the site in the past week, significant progress is being made.

"In the next two weeks, work on the basement and first floor will be completed," he stated.

He further mentioned that the reprofiling of the stadium had started, with improvements made to its angles and viewing experience.

The stadium’s capacity will be increased to over 30,000 from its previous 22,000. Decisions regarding the chairs, whether they will be replaced or installed in Rawalpindi, will be made soon.

Naqvi also gave updates on the front building that will house the pavilion and PCB headquarters. He said, "We are on track now, having caught up with delays from previous days. On October 25, we will begin installing the roof, and every three weeks after that, another section of the roof will be completed. The coming two and a half months are crucial for us, but we are confident we will meet the deadlines."

He further noted that while some reprofiling issues were present earlier, they have been resolved after consulting with the designer.

Captaincy in white-ball cricket

Naqvi’s media interaction didn’t just focus on the infrastructural developments; he also addressed the critical issue of leadership within the Pakistan men's cricket team in limited-overs cricket.

The vacancy created by Babar Azam’s resignation from the white-ball captaincy has led to rampant speculation about potential successors.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.AFP

When queried about whether the team would adopt separate captains for different formats, Naqvi was careful in his response.

"I receive daily messages about supposed decisions being made, but nothing has been finalized. I have asked the coaches and selection committee to submit their recommendations with full consideration, and once that’s done, we will sit together to make the final decisions," Naqvi said.

As the countdown to the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy begins, the emphasis on upgrading facilities, enhancing spectator experience, and thoughtfully addressing leadership issues is crucial for building a competitive and successful cricketing environment.