‘We pin our hopes on you,’ PM tells players at Gaddafi Stadium inauguration

LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while addressing the opening ceremony of Gaddafi Stadium, told the members of the Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 that the nation have pinned their hopes on them, and expressed optimism that they will stand victorious.

Gaddafi Stadium has undergone extensive upgrades to enhance the match-day experience for players and spectators.

“You carry our hopes,” the PM told Babar Azam and other players, and urged Shaheen Shah to play like his father-in-law, Shahid Afridi.

The ceremony was attended by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, former PCB chairmen Najam Sethi and Zaka Ashraf, national cricket team players, and other dignitaries. 

The PM distributed appreciation shields among officials from various departments at the event. 

He lauded the PCB and Punjab government for working as a team to complete the project. He thanked Maryam Nawaz for her cooperation and expressed his admiration for Mohsin Naqvi’s leadership. 

“Our national cricket team has performed exceptionally well in recent months, winning the hearts of the nation. We are all praying for their success in the Champions Trophy,” Shehbaz said. 

He urged the team to defeat India and lift the trophy, becoming heroes for the 240 million people of Pakistan. “We are all behind you and eagerly waiting for that moment,” he said. 

The Champions Trophy will officially commence on February 19 with a match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi. Some matches will also be held in the UAE, including the highly anticipated Pakistan-India match on February 23 in Dubai. 

The final will be held on March 9. If India qualifies for the final, it will be played in the UAE instead of Pakistan due to India’s refusal to play matches in the country. 

Speaking on the occasion, the PCB chairman praised the efforts of 2,500 workers who completed the Gaddafi Stadium project within a record 177 days. He highlighted the vital role of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and the Pakistan Army in ensuring the timely completion of the renovation. 

Naqvi noted that the renovation was part of preparations for the Champions Trophy, which will be hosted in Pakistan after nearly 30 years. “This event belongs to the entire nation, and we will ensure its success together,” he added. 

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq praised the stadium’s transformation and expressed his excitement for the upcoming matches, including the much-anticipated Pakistan-India clash. “Our young players are the pride of the nation. We should always support them,” he said.