Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has responded to social media critics who doubted the board’s ability to complete the renovation of Karachi and Lahore stadiums ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which begins on February 19.
The PCB faced heavy criticism over the past month regarding delays in the upgradation of the stadiums. Concerns arose after a Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh was relocated from Karachi to Rawalpindi last year and the renovation deadline was extended.
However, the PCB successfully completed the renovation in time for the marquee tournament. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium has already hosted two tri-nation matches featuring Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa.
During the inauguration of the newly renovated Karachi Stadium on Tuesday, Naqvi took a dig at social media trolls who doubted the PCB’s efficiency.
“We win, you lose. This is for those who claimed on social media that we could not complete the construction of this stadium. If we failed to complete this, you would have won, and we were unsuccessful. However, by completing this [upgradation] project, we won, and you lose now,” Naqvi said, as quoted by Geo News.
Naqvi also expressed his appreciation for the workers involved in the project and admitted that the Karachi stadium now looks better than Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
The newly constructed pavilion at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium features modern dressing rooms for players and match officials, along with hospitality rooms. Other major upgrades have been completed to enhance both the playing conditions and spectator experience.
The National Bank Stadium in Karachi is set to host a tri-nation ODI match between Pakistan and South Africa on Wednesday.