ICC team to visit Pakistan to assess CT preparations

LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to send a high-level delegation to Pakistan next week to assess the country’s preparations for the upcoming Champions Trophy, scheduled for February 2025.

The inspection team will visit Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi, where the tournament matches will take place. The visit of ICC team comes with question still remaining about India’s participation as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is still awaiting instructions from the Indian government regarding visiting Pakistan for this event.

During the visit, the ICC delegation will focus on reviewing arrangements, including venue upgrades, practice match schedules, and ticketing plans. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has allocated Rs 12.80 billion for the improvement of Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, National Stadium in Karachi and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium to meet international standards.

The PCB will provide detailed briefings to the ICC representatives regarding the infrastructure upgrades and preparations for hosting the global event. Following the delegation’s assessment, the ICC is expected to announce the tournament schedule and initiate ticket sales. The uncertainty over India’s participation stalks from its decision not to travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup. The tournament was split between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with India playing their matches in Colombo.