The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Thursday that the renovation and upgrade of Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium have been completed in a record 117 days, making it ready to host international matches, including the ICC Champions Trophy.
In a statement, the PCB revealed that the revamped stadium now boasts enhanced facilities, new floodlights, upgraded hospitality boxes, increased seating capacity, electronic scoreboards, and state-of-the-art LED towers.
The newly renovated venue will be put to the test on February 8, when Pakistan faces New Zealand in the opening match of the tri-series, which also features South Africa.
“I am grateful to all those people who put in day and night of work to get the stadium ready on time despite the apprehensions and criticism,” PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi said.
Recently, reports suggested that the PCB was at least five weeks behind schedule in completing the renovation work. The board must hand over the stadiums to the ICC by February 12, as the tournament is set to begin a week later.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will officially inaugurate the stadium on Friday in a grand ceremony featuring live performances by renowned artists, including Ali Zafar, Aima Baig, and Arif Lohar.
