The International Cricket Council (ICC) team has landed in Pakistan to assess preparations for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. On Thursday morning, they inspected Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.
The team reviewed ongoing construction and renovation works. PCB officials and construction representatives updated them on progress and timelines. The General Manager of the stadium, Arshad Khan, accompanied the delegation.
They explored a five-story building under construction and the main building, which includes the media centre and gallery. They also examined the old building’s dressing rooms, the Chairman’s Box, and the PCB Gallery.
The ICC Champions Trophy will kick off with its opening ceremony and first match between Pakistan and New Zealand at this venue on February 19. The stadium is set to host three matches during the tournament.
Before the Champions Trophy, the venue will host a tri-nation ODI series. The series starts with Pakistan versus South Africa on February 12, with the final on February 14.
This is the ICC’s fourth delegation visit to Pakistan in preparation for the Champions Trophy. Previous visits were led by ICC Security Head David Mascro, Senior Manager Event Operations Sarah Edgar, Manager Aun Zaidi, and broadcast overseer Mansoor Manch.
In other news, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revised the pick order for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 Player Draft. The new format reduces the number of draft categories to streamline the selection process.
Pakistan’s opening batter, Saim Ayub, has undergone his first medical check-up in London. Dr. Lucky Jayaselan conducted the exam. Ayub suffered an ankle fracture during the Cape Town Test against South Africa. More check-ups are scheduled to monitor his recovery.
