A “behind schedule” Pakistan worries the International Cricket Council (ICC), days ahead of the Champions Trophy, RevSportz understands. According to sources, the latest recce by the ICC delegation has found the renovation works at the stadiums, especially Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, “behind schedule”. People in the know in Pakistan, however, are claiming that this is “not alarming”.
The event commences on February 19, with Lahore hosting its first game, between Australia and England, on February 22. In a hybrid structure, India will play their matches in Dubai.
The original deadline to complete the renovation work was December 31. It was then pushed to January 25. Now, according to sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has conveyed to the ICC that Gaddafi would be ready by February 1. As for the other two venues in Pakistan that would host the Champions Trophy matches — National Stadium in Karachi and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi — things are better. Rawalpindi is all but ready, while the finishing touches are being put in Karachi.
Lahore is the biggest concern. Those aware of the development say that the work has been progressing at a breakneck speed. At the same time, a lot is still to be done. There is a serious concern over the February 1 timeline as well and some suggest that the PCB would hand over the venue to the ICC only after the two matches of the upcoming tri-series involving the hosts, New Zealand and South Africa. The tri-series starts on February 8, with Lahore hosting the first two matches. The second game is on February 10.
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“Fikr nahi, ho jayega (don’t worry, it would be done),” former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif told RevSportz. “Pindi aur Karachi toh ho gaya hai. Aur bol toh raha hai Lahore bhi February 1 tak ho jayega (Pindi and Karachi are already done. According to them (PCB), the work in Lahore will complete by February 1).”
The Gaddafi redevelopment work has indeed picked up pace, with people working day and night. But weather, fog to be precise, is proving to an impediment. New chairs are being installed at the moment, but it’s only half-done. The PCB has reportedly spent 12 billion Pakistani rupees to renovate the three stadiums, but it is yet to come up with a proper explanation for the delay. In fact, there was a fear that the delay might see the entire tournament move out to the United Arab Emirates, but the ICC chose to cut Pakistan, which is hosting a global event for the first time since 1996, some slack.
Pakistan was awarded the Champions Trophy three years ago. About three weeks before the start of the tournament, the country is not ready yet. Asked about this, Latif said: “Actually, they are rebuilding the Gaddafi Stadium from scratch. That’s why it’s taking so much time.”
Some insiders, however, are blaming it to the “jugaad” culture, as work began in earnest only six months ago.
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