Aakash Chopra has raised concerns about the readiness of the venues for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to take place in Pakistan. According to Chopra, there are serious doubts about whether the stadiums will be prepared on time, which could force the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move the tournament outside of Pakistan.
The tournament is scheduled to start on February 19 with a game between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi. Although all of India’s matches are planned to be held in Dubai, the other games are expected to take place in Rawalpindi and Lahore, alongside Karachi.
The Pakistan Cricket Board was allocated ₹600 crore to enhance the stadiums and infrastructure for the Champions Trophy. Although Pakistan initiated the work, a video emerged revealing that the preparations are still far from finished. Critical elements such as the dressing rooms, press areas, and corporate boxes are incomplete, and in some venues, the floodlight installation remains unfinished.
Chopra explained that the ICC might have to take the extreme step of moving the entire event elsewhere if the preparations do not meet the required standards. “If the ICC believes that the venues won’t be ready on time, they have the authority to move the tournament elsewhere entirely,” Chopra said, adding that there has been no official refutation from the PCB or Pakistani media outlets, leaving the issue unresolved.
He suggested that if Pakistan fails to deliver, the UAE could step in as a potential venue, with stadiums in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah already prepared to host matches. However, he cautioned that the fan facilities might not be up to par, as they are typically the last to be completed.Chopra speculated that the delay could either be due to a lack of effort or corruption, both of which could hinder the timely completion of the tournament’s infrastructure.