Preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium have been disrupted due to the ongoing monsoon rains. The partial renovation and beautification work at the stadium, which is a key part of the preparations for the upcoming tournament, has been significantly affected.
Heavy rains in Karachi this week have hampered progress on the stadium’s redevelopment. The removal of debris from the demolished manual scoreboard tower, as well as the Naseem-ul-Ghani and Iqbal Qasim enclosures, has been partially halted for the past two days due to rainwater accumulation.
According to Express News, the decision to pause the debris removal was made with safety in mind to prevent any potential damage. However, other construction activities are continuing as planned. If the city does not experience further rainfall, the renovation work is expected to resume by Saturday.
The renovation project at National Bank Stadium, based on a design approved by an international firm specialising in stadium construction, is divided into several phases. In the first phase, a new five-story building will be constructed to house dressing rooms for players.
In the second phase, modern Teflon roofs will be installed over all enclosures. The third and final phase will involve the demolition of the central building, which will then be replaced with a new structure.
The stadium’s new construction plans also include the establishment of a state-of-the-art media gallery, along with designated areas for media boxes, broadcasters, and commentators.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has allocated a total of Rs12.8 billion for the mega renovation projects at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Karachi’s National Bank Stadium, and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, all in preparation for hosting the Champions Trophy.
