On Thursday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that renovation and modernization works at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore were completed at a record time of 117 days and is now ready to organize international matches, including Trophy ICC Champions.
PCB said in a statement that the stadium with a new appearance now has better amenities, new headlights, hotel boxes, increased seat capacity, electronic score boards and the peak of the LED Towers line. “I am grateful to all people who called for day and night to prepare the stadium on time, despite the fears and criticism,” said PCB Mohsin Naqvi.
Recently, it was reported that PCB was working for at least five weeks at the end of work. PCB is obliged to transfer stadiums to ICC until February 12, when the tournament begins a week later.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will officially inaugurate the stadium on Friday during a ceremony in which outstanding artists, such as Ali Zafar, Aima Baig and Arif Lohar.
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“I am particularly obliged to almost 1,000 employees who enabled this dream,” said Naqvi and promised a much better experience for viewers with a high seat and removing a high fence around the ground.
The new stadium will be tested on February 8, when Pakistan and New Zealand are playing a game that opens three, also with the participation of South Africa.
PCB will conduct a similar inaugural ceremony for the National Stadium in Karachi on February 11, and President Asif Zardari expected this opportunity.
Naqvi admitted that the budget intended for the modernization of three stadiums in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi exceeded the initial assessments, but said that the new most modern places would serve Pakistan Cricket in the future well.
PCB was initially assigned to work 12.8 billion rupees, but apparently it is said that the budget exceeded 18 billion rupees.
PCB said that projects were managed by PCB money and no help was made, including the government.
