Champions Trophy: National Stadium Karachi upgrades completed

KARACHI: In a media briefing held on Thursday, project director Bilal Chauhan confirmed that renovations to the National Stadium Karachi have been 100 per cent completed. The PCB also released a statement confirming the completion of renovations to Gaddafi Stadium.

Among the major upgrades are two new screens that have been added to the stadium, including one that is 30-foot-wide and 80-foot-long one, and another that is 22-foot-wide and 37 foot long. Floodlights have also been installed on all six poles in the stadium. There are now two buildings in the arena as well. The new building has been named the pavilion end, while the old building has been named Karsaz end.

Seating has also been installed in all enclosures. The total seating capacity of the stadium is currently 28,000. The parking area will be able to accomodate 2,200 cars. The outer sections of the stadium have also had beautification work done. 

In order to honour the people who made the upgrades possible, the PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has arranged match tickets for the workers. There will be a luncheon held before the inaguration fo the national stadium. The inaguration ceremony is scheduled for February 11, according to previous media reports. On this day, an exhibition match will be held among the workers. 

The first match of the upcoming Champions Trophy will be held at the National Stadium and is scheduled for February 19. It will feature Pakistan facing off against New Zealand. Two other group stage matches are scheduled for Karachi, including Afghanistan vs South Africa on February 21, and England vs South Africa on March 1. 

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Gaddafi Stadium

The PCB stated that upgrades to the Gaddafi Stadium have also been completed, and it was done in an incredible 117 days. Among the rennovations include brighter LED lights, two new score screens, imported seated for all enclosures, newly built hospitality boxes and upgraded amenities for both players and spectators.

“Our venues are now on par with international standards and we are proud to offer cricket fans the best possible experience. The transformation of this stadium in such a short time is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team.”

– Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman PCB

An inaguration ceremony will be held on February 7, the day before Pakistan plays New Zealand as p0art of the tri-nation tournament taking place. The ceremony will feature fireworks, a light show, and performances by Ali Zafar, Arif Lohar, and Aima Baig. Entry is free for the public from 5:30 PM. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also be attending the ceremony.

Naqvi thanked the workers who made the rennovations possible, stating that “the combined efforts of Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), NESPAK, the contractors and PCB teams have turned this dream into reality.

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