The president of PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, has announced that the redevelopment of the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore is “in its final stages.” In a press conference held within the ground, Naqvi praised all those involved in the construction of the stadium, saying that he had completed in record time.
“The Prime Minister will open the Gaddafi Stadium on February 7 [Shehbaz Sharif]”Naqvi said.” It is in its final stages and the last touches are applied. It will definitely be completed before February 7. We had begun to demolish this stadium in September, with the construction from October. We promised that it would be ready by the end of January, and everyone can see how close it is of completion. “
“We also celebrate a ceremony on February 16 at Lahore. We have invited the chiefs of all the Cricket tips of teams that come, as well as all the CPI officials, including the president of the ICC Jay Shah. We are eager to give The Board officials and any other person who attends. “
The PCB has faced extreme scrutiny in recent months with respect to the aptitude of its stadiums to organize the tournament. With the renewal and reconstruction work in the places that remained until the last months, there were concerns about whether the PCB will take its stadiums to a state of preparation in time for the tournament. The PCB had initially established a deadline of January 25 so that the entire development of the Gadafi stadium would be completed, before taking it forward until February 2.
Naqvi pointed to those who had raised doubts. “On the other side of the border [a reference to India]There are many people trying to find the smallest defect in our stadiums and arrangements, and they will not have such an opportunity. We will thank all the teams that arrive and their safety and welcome arrangements. The whole PCB is day and night to provide a tournament without problems. “
Naqvi, who has not apologized on the expense rate on the PCB since he assumed the position, also offered a first vision of the potential financial toll that the work in the stadiums had had, announcing that the PCB had sold the tickets assigned by the ICC returns to the Governing Council to compensate for the costs of developing its reasons.
The Champions Trophy, which will begin on February 19, is the first ICC tournament that Pakistan will be the host since 1996.
