The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a substantial financial commitment to upgrading its stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi ahead of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. The board’s Board of Governors, meeting in Lahore on Saturday, approved an allocation of approximately 17 billion rupees for this crucial project.
This investment reflects the PCB’s ambition to elevate these venues to A-class standards, providing world-class facilities for both players and spectators. The board also demonstrated a significant shift in its focus towards women’s cricket, approving an additional 240 million rupees for the development of the sport. This marks a substantial increase from the 70 million rupees allocated in the previous budget, signaling a commitment to fostering greater equality and opportunity within Pakistani cricket.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi informed the BOG that the Champions Trophy would be held entirely in Pakistan, with further details to be discussed at the ICC’s annual board meeting in Colombo later this month. The meeting also addressed the PCB’s budget for the 2024-25 season, which includes hosting Bangladesh, England, and West Indies for various series, including a tri-series preceding the Champions Trophy. Pakistan is also scheduled to tour Australia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe during the season.
Naqvi emphasized that the stadium upgrades have already commenced, with the aim of creating a more welcoming and engaging environment for fans. The BOG approved nearly 13 billion rupees from development funds for this project, alongside an additional four and a half billion rupees for managing the domestic season.
In addition to the infrastructure improvements, the board has also announced a significant increase in central contract fees and salaries for both women’s cricketers and domestic players. Naqvi highlighted the board’s intention to bolster competition levels and enhance structures within both the domestic and women’s cricket arenas, signaling a commitment to developing a more robust and competitive cricket ecosystem in Pakistan.
