Pakistan Cricket Board is set to introduce the new floodlights in the stadiums which will be hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. As per the reports in PTI, it is learned that Karachi and Lahore will be the two venues that will be getting lights ahead of the major tournament.
Pakistan is all set to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament will be taking place in February-March next year and the preparations by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are right on the money and they are making sure that they are putting everything in place.
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s plan to install floodlights comes in the wake of a broader effort to ensure smaller venues, such as Quetta, Abbottabad, and Peshawar, are also equipped with light towers, enabling domestic matches to be played under lights in hot weather.
The old floodlights that are in Karachi will be moving to Quetta and those in Lahore to Rawalpindi. The reports claimed that PCB has also started inviting tenders from eligible companies to provide the lights on a rental basis for the period from August 2024 to July 2025.
A source close to the Pakistan Cricket Board, confirmed the development, saying that by installing new lights they want to ensure the international standard is maintained and there is uninterrupted provision of light during matches. He elaborated:
“The idea behind this process is to ensure smaller venues are also equipped with light towers for domestic cricket and major venues like Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi where most of the international games and CT matches would be played get towers which ensure international standard and uninterrupted provision of light during matches.”
The reports also claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board has invited tenders for the provision of generators to cities including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Abbottabad, Quetta, and Peshawar. This is because there have been a lot of power fluctuations and load-shedding issues.
Pakistan Cricket Board to implement facelifts of its stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi ahead of Champions Trophy 2025
Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board will also be implementing facelifts of its stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. This is the reason why behind second Test against Bangladesh in Karachi will be played without spectators. The match will be played from 30th September.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be taking place from 19th February to 9th March across three venues in Pakistan. They have designated three venues for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. All the India games reportedly will be played in Lahore.
But there is no clarity over the participation of the Indian team in the tournament. There have been reports that there will be a hybrid model as BCCI isn’t keen to send the team to Pakistan. On the other hand, PCB has been strict on their statement that they won’t be moving the tournament outside.