New Delhi: The International Cricket Council will take stock of Pakistan’s preparations to host the Champions Trophy that is scheduled to be held in February-March next year.
The global governing body has reportedly sent a five-member delegation, who will stay in Pakistan for four days while conducting a security and infrastructural inspection.
The recce begins in Karachi on Wednesday before moving to Islamabad on Friday before concluding in Lahore from where they will move to Dubai on Saturday, reports Cricbuzz.
The ICC have sent its delegates three times once April with security manager David Mucker, head of events Chris Tetley and pitch consultant Andy Atkinson being part of those trips.
Deadline tightrope
But this time there would be changes in personnel due to internal changes and exits. The trip will happen amidst reports of renovation work undertaken by the Pakistan Cricket Board at the National Stadium in Karachi, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, and Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore are running behind schedule.
The PCB remains confident of completing all pending work well within deadline.
“The redevelopment of the stadia in Karachi and Lahore is progressing rapidly and the PCB is confident that the construction companies will meet their targets on time. These upgrades are not just a necessity but a critical step in elevating our venues to meet the expectations of the modern game,” a PCB spokesperson told Cricbuzz.
“The two stadia required significant improvements to provide world-class facilities and enhanced experiences for fans, players, officials, and broadcasters alike. The PCB is resolutely committed to showcasing our venues as world-class destinations, adhering to the highest international standards and reinforcing our position on the global sporting stage.”
Scheduled to be rolled out from February 19 and March 9, the Champions Trophy is the first ICC major event in long while for which a budget of around 65 million dollars has been approved.
The PCB has already formulated a draft schedule and wait ICC’s approval though India’s unwillingness to travel could force adoption of a hybrid model for staging of matches.
ICC has reportedly sent a five-member delegation, who will stay in Pakistan for four days while conducting a security and infrastructural inspection for the Champions Trophy. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
