Karachi’s National Stadium nears completion ahead of ICC Champions Trophy 2025
KARACHI: Renovation work at the National Stadium Karachi is in its final stages, as preparations intensify for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will begin in February.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Thursday that two stadium enclosures will be renamed in honor of Karachi’s cricket legends, Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan.
As part of the upgrades, a new far-end building has been constructed, and the players’ rooms are fully completed. The upper floors are undergoing final touches, including cleaning and partitioning.
To showcase the progress, the PCB hosted a media visit to the stadium. National Stadium Karachi General Manager Arshad Khan revealed that two VIP enclosures on the ground floor of the new building, with a combined seating capacity of 1,050, will be named after Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas.
Additionally, the existing Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas enclosures will be renamed Younis Khan and Nazar Mohammad enclosures, while the Quaid Enclosure will be renamed after Shahid Afridi.
Arshad Khan also highlighted adjustments aligning the Hanif Mohammad and Javed Miandad enclosures with the far-end building to place VIP sections closer to the players’ area. The adjacent older sections will now bear the names Iqbal Qasim and Naseem-ul-Ghani.
Work on the lighting system is almost complete, with frames installed on three light towers and remaining installations expected within two days. According to Project Director Bilal Chauhan, construction on the main building is nearly finished, with seats set for installation by January 28.
Chauhan expressed confidence that all work would be finalised by January 31, ensuring the venue’s readiness for the Champions Trophy and an upcoming tri-nation series. Once completed, the revamped National Stadium will offer a world-class experience for players and fans alike.
