PCB chairman confident Pakistan will host Champions Trophy

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced the completion of preparations for the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy on Monday, while expressing hopes that Pakistan would be able to host the tournament in 2025.

Talking to media personnel, the PCB Chairman said that efforts were underway to upgrade cricket stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, with plans to build proper pitches in Lahore and import soil for wicket preparation in other stadiums.

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On a question of financial challenges faced by the national cricket board, Naqvi responded that he was seeking cost-saving measures without compromising efficiency.

He pointed to the PCB’s large workforce of 900 employees, saying that “we do not want to fire anyone but also want to save money”.

Meanwhile, Naqvi also addressed concerns about the appointment of a foreign coach. He stated that the matter will be resolved “within a week”.

He also addressed questions regarding the appointment of a captain for the national team. Naqvi stated that the captain would be appointed by a selection committee that would be rigorously chosen “to ensure accountability’ and empowerment of its members.

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The chairman also revealed ambitious plans to increase the number of matches conducted by the PCB. “Last year we conducted 2700 domestic matches. Our target is to conduct 9000 matches in the next four months,” he said.