Karachi’s National Stadium set for Champions Trophy after renovation completion

Renovation work at Karachi’s National Stadium has entered its final phase as preparations ramp up for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled for February.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the stadium will be ready in time for the prestigious tournament, with several upgrades nearly complete.

The upgrades include the construction of a new far-end building, which houses the players' area. While the players’ area is finished, work on the upper floors, including cleaning and partitioning, is in its final stages.

Additionally, the PCB has announced the renaming of two enclosures in honor of cricket legends from Karachi, Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan.

During a media visit on Thursday, National Stadium Karachi General Manager Arshad Khan provided updates on the project.

He confirmed that two VIP enclosures, with a combined seating capacity of 1,050, are being prepared at the ground level of the new building.

These will be named after former cricketers Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas. Meanwhile, the existing Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas enclosures will be renamed after Younis Khan and Nazar Mohammad, respectively. The Quaid Enclosure will now bear the name of Shahid Afridi.

“The new stadium layout also aligns the Hanif Mohammad and Javed Miandad enclosures with the Far-End Building,” Khan explained, noting that the traditionally VIP enclosures are located next to the players' area. Additionally, the enclosures adjacent to the older building will be renamed Iqbal Qasim and Naseem-ul-Ghani.

Upgrades to the stadium’s lighting system are also nearing completion. Frames have been installed on three of the light towers, with work on the remaining towers set to be finished in the next two days, followed by the installation of lights.

Project Director Bilal Chauhan assured the media that construction on the main building is nearly complete.

“The stands on the ground and top floors will be ready soon, with seating installation expected by January 28,” he said. The players’ dressing rooms are also complete, with final cleaning underway.