Karachi National Stadium
The ICC Champions Trophy is to be held in Pakistan in February next year. In such a situation, a 5-member delegation of the International Cricket Council (ICC) reached Karachi on Tuesday night, September 17, to take stock of Pakistan’s preparations for the tournament. This four-day tour will end on September 21 with an inspection of the arrangements in Lahore. The ICC team will inspect the stadium, practice facilities and hotels during its tour of Pakistan. They will also consult the hotel management (where the teams and officials will stay) to ensure that the arrangements are in accordance with the expected standards.
ICC team will take stock of the preparations
According to a Cricbuzz report, the ICC team’s recce will begin in Karachi, after which the ICC officials will travel to Islamabad on September 20 and then conclude in Lahore, after which the delegation will leave for Dubai on September 21. The delegation will include ICC officials. These include senior event managers, event managers, security managers, cricket general managers and production managers.
ICC security manager David Mucker, event head Chris Tetley and ICC pitch consultant Andy Atkinson have visited Pakistan three times since April. However, there have been some changes in the delegation recently after the resignation of some senior officials from the ICC.
Awaiting ICC approval
According to local media reports, the renovation work being carried out by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at the National Stadium in Karachi, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is running behind schedule. However, the PCB is confident that the work will be completed on time. It is worth noting that the Champions Trophy will be held between February 19 and March 9. However, it has not been decided yet whether Team India will go to Pakistan to participate in this tournament or will play its matches in some other country. The Pakistan Cricket Board i.e. PCB has also presented the draft schedule of the Champions Trophy, which is awaiting approval from the ICC. The delay in the tournament schedule is mainly due to the uncertainty regarding India’s participation.
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