Champions Trophy 2025: Ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board spent a lot of money to renovate three stadiums in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. The cost went up by over five billion rupees (around USD 20.4 million).
Initially, the renovation was estimated to cost 12.3 billion Pakistani rupees (around Rs 383 crore), but the final cost ended up being 18 billion rupees (around Rs 561 crore). However, rain at the Rawalpindi and Lahore venues led to match cancellations.
The match between Australia and South Africa on February 25, and Pakistan vs Bangladesh on February 27 (both in Rawalpindi) were abandoned without even the toss happening due to bad weather. Similarly, the Afghanistan vs Australia match on February 28 in Lahore was also called off.
Concerns Raised Over Stadium Conditions Despite Heavy Renovation Costs
A Pakistan fan shared a video showing leaking roofs and a flooded ground, suggesting that the stadiums didn’t appear to have been properly renovated.
Despite spending 1,800 crore rupees (initial budget: 1,230 crore) on stadium renovations for the Champions Trophy 2025, the poor condition of the venues raised concerns.
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Watch the video:
🚨After spending ₹1,800 Cr (initial budget: ₹1,230 Cr) on stadium renovations for Champions Trophy 2025
Pakistan’s stadiums are in pathetic condition!
-Ceiling leaks during rain
-Water flowing everywhere
-Match cancelled due to a flooded outfieldWhere did all the money go?… pic.twitter.com/i409Rn87ku
— BALA (@erbmjha) March 2, 2025
Meanwhile, a senior Pakistan government official stated that he would ask Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to bring up the matter of the country’s cricket team’s disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy in Parliament and the Federal Cabinet.
“The (Pakistan) Cricket Board is an independent institution. They can do as they please, which they have. And what they’ve done, I will request the Prime Minister to discuss the matter in the Cabinet and Parliament,” said Rana Sanaullah, the advisor to the PM on Political and Public Affairs, during an interview with Geo TV channel.
Pakistan’s Disappointing Campaign in the Champions Trophy 2025
Hosts Pakistan’s campaign in the prestigious tournament ended early with heavy defeats to New Zealand (by 60 runs) and India (by six wickets). Their final group match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi was abandoned without any play due to continuous rain.
Sanaullah, a former federal and provincial minister and a senior member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) party, emphasized that the caretaker government before last year’s general elections had completely separated the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) from the Federal Government’s control.
“The problem is we have been facing ups and downs in cricket and changes in the Board for the past decade now,” said Sanaullah, while also highlighting the dismal condition of the sport at the club, university, and district level.
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