Pakistan To Install New Floodlights In Stadiums For Champions Trophy 2025

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is gearing up for the Champions Trophy 2025 by planning to install new floodlights at Karachi's National Stadium and Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on a rental basis. Smaller venues like Quetta, Abbottabad, and Peshawar will also get new lights to facilitate matches under lights during hot weather.

To save costs, the PCB has decided to relocate existing floodlights from Karachi to Quetta and from Lahore to Rawalpindi. New light towers will be installed in Karachi and Lahore. The PCB has started inviting tenders from eligible companies to provide these light towers on a rental basis for the period between August 2024 and July 2025.

The PCB is also seeking tenders for generators for multiple venues including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Abbottabad, Quetta, and Peshawar. This move aims to address power fluctuations and load shedding issues by using generators to power the light towers at these grounds.

A source from PTI mentioned that some of the towers would be sponsored but couldn't provide exact costs involved in this process. "The idea behind this process is to ensure smaller venues are also equipped with light towers for domestic cricket and major venues like Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi where most of the international games and CT matches would be played get towers which ensure international standard and uninterrupted provision of light during matches," he revealed to PTI.

In addition to installing new floodlights, the PCB is already carrying out intensive renovations at its stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. Due to these renovations, the second Test with Bangladesh in Karachi will be played without spectators. The PCB has allocated funds in its fiscal budget to cover all costs related to the facelift and renovation of these stadiums.

(With Input From PTI)