Gaddafi stadium of lahore is ready: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Thursday (6 February 2025), saying that renewal and modernization work at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore has been completed in 117 days record time and now it hosted international bouts including ICC Champions Trophy. Ready for PCB said in a statement that the stadium now has better facilities, new floodlights, hospitality box, more viewers’ seating capacity, electronic scoreboard and top level LED towers.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi said, “I am grateful to all those who worked day and night to prepare the stadium on time despite apprehensions and criticisms.” Recently it was told that PCB is running at least five weeks behind in completing the work. The PCB has to hand over the stadium to the ICC (International Cricket Council) by 12 February as the tournament will start a week later.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will officially open the stadium during a ceremony on Friday where famous artists like Ali Zafar, Aima Baig and Arif Lohar will perform. Naqvi said, ‘I am particularly grateful to about 1000 workers who have made this dream possible.’
The new stadium will be tested on February 8 when Pakistan and New Zealand will play the first match of the triangular series with the third team South Africa. The PCB will inaugurate the National Stadium in Karachi on February 11 in which President Asif Zardari is expected to join.
Naqvi has admitted that the cost of modernization of three stadiums in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi has exceeded the initial allocated budget, but he said that the new state -of -the -art sites will provide good service to Pakistan cricket in future.
The PCB had initially allocated Rs 12 billion 80 lakh rupees for renewal work, but the budget is said to be more than Rs 18 billion. The PCB said that no financial assistance was taken from any other source including the government for this work.
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