Gaddafi Stadium set for Feb inauguration

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Friday, announced that the inauguration ceremony of the newly-renovated Gaddafi Stadium here will take place in the first week of February, a few days ahead of the commencement of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. .According to the details, the PCB head made a detailed visit to the venue, which has begun to receive final touches.During his detailed visit, Naqvi inspected new dressing rooms, hospitality boxes and every floor of the venue in a bid to ensure that their renovation meets international standards.Naqvi also personally checked the view from the newly installed seats and expressed his satisfaction with the renovation process and announced that the venue’s inauguration ceremony will be held in the first week of February.”For the first time in the history of Pakistan, a stadium equipped with modern international facilities has been developed,” said Naqvi.”Along with the players, cricket fans will enjoy the new facilities. By the will of Almighty Allah, the new Gaddafi Stadium will be inaugurated in the first week of February,” he added.The PCB chairman also met the construction workers and praised their dedication and tireless efforts in getting the venue ready to host the eight-team tournament.He also invited the workers to watch the first match of the upcoming tri-nation ODI series, scheduled to be played at the venue on February 8.”I will sit with you and watch the match,” Naqvi told the workers.For the unversed, Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will host at least four exciting matches during the Champions Trophy 2025, including the second semi-final, scheduled on March 5.The venue may as well host the final of the eight-team tournament on March 9 if India does not qualify for the blockbuster contest.It is pertinent to mention that the eight-team tournament, comprised of 15 matches, will run from February 19 to March 9, across three venues – Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi – in Pakistan and Dubai.The eight teams are divided into two groups. Group A features Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh, while Group B is comprised of Afghanistan, South Africa, England and Australia.Hosts Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the curtain raiser on February 19 in Karachi, while the blockbuster clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India is scheduled for February 23 in Dubai.Trophy tour concludedThe prestigious silverware of the prestigious ICC Men’s Champions Trophy on Thursday, returned to the host country Pakistan after completing its world tour.According to the details, the title reached here after visiting each participating nation in the eight-team tournament, scheduled to run from February 19 to March 9.Following its arrival, the trophy will embark on its second tour of the country, amid which it will be put on display in major cities like Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sargodha and Sheikhupura until February 15.Meanwhile, it will also be exhibited during the opening ceremonies at the newly-renovated Gaddafi Stadium here and Karachi’s National Stadium on February 7 and 11, respectively.Remember, the Champions Trophy has already toured several cities in Pakistan in November last year.During the tour, the trophy was exhibited in major cities like Karachi, Islamabad, Murree, Nithia Gali, Taxila and Abbottabad but was not exhibited in Lahore.The eight-team tournament, comprised of 15 matches, will run from February 19 to March 9, across three venues – Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi – in Pakistan and Dubai.The eight teams are divided into two groups. Group A features Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh, while Group B is comprised of Afghanistan, South Africa, England and Australia.Hosts Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the curtain raiser on February 19 in Karachi, while the blockbuster clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India is scheduled for February 23 in Dubai.Pakistan will host a total of 10 matches in their country, while four matches, including all three of India’s group-stage matches and the first semi-final, will be played in Dubai.The final of the Champions Trophy is scheduled to be played in Lahore but if India qualifies then it will also be held in Dubai.Furthermore, a reserve day has also been allocated for the final clash as a precautionary measure to combat any weather-related hindrance.