KARACHI: Renovation work at the National Stadium in Karachi has entered its final phase as preparations for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy scheduled in February accelerate.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also announced on Thursday that two arenas at the stadium will be renamed in honor of cricket legends from the city, Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan.
The upgrade includes the construction of a new, far-reaching building, where the players’ area has been completed, and final touches, such as cleaning and partitioning, are currently being made on the upper floors.
On Thursday, the Planning Committee organized a media visit to the stadium to view the progress.
Karachi National Stadium General Manager Arshad Khan has confirmed that two VIP arenas with a collective seating capacity of 1,050 are being prepared at the ground level of the new away building and will be named after former players Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas.
In addition, the existing Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas sheds will be renamed as Younis Khan and Nizar Mohammad, respectively. The Quaid Enclosure area will now be named Shahid Afridi Enclosure.
“The design of the new stadium also aligns the Hanif Mohammad and Javed Miandad annexes with the away building, as the VIP buildings are located next to the players’ area, while the adjoining reserves of the older building will be renamed Iqbal Qasim and Naseem Mall Ghani Annexes,” Arshad said.
Upgrades to the stadium’s lighting system are also nearing completion. The tires were installed on three of the lighting towers, and work on the remaining towers is expected to be completed within the next two days. The lights will then be installed.
Project manager Bilal Chauhan told the media that construction work on the main building is nearing completion. “The bleachers on the ground floor and the upper floor sections will be completed soon. By January 28, the bleachers will be ready for seating installation,” Chauhan said.
He added that the players’ dressing rooms on the first floor have been completed and are currently being cleaned. He expressed confidence that all renovation works would be completed by January 31, ensuring that the stadium is ready to host the Champions Cup and a tri-tournament.
The renovated National Stadium is set to be a state-of-the-art venue that promotes a fantastic experience for both players and fans.