The official added that a local reporter had, without permission, filmed the construction work at National Stadium Karachi and presented a negative picture.

Pakistan will host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with foreign teams arriving as early as the first week of February, according to media reports. New Zealand and South Africa are set to land in Pakistan in early February for both the tournament and a tri-series, Express News reported.

Critical upgrades, including multi-story enclosures for dressing rooms and hospitality boxes, floodlight installations, seat arrangements, and fencing, are still incomplete

There have been several media reports stating that the Champions Trophy 2025 might be shifted out of Pakistan due to delay in renovation work at the stadiums in the country.

Pakistan was originally scheduled to host the entire tournament in three cities – Lahore, Karachi and Rawapindi. However, the country might end up missing out entirely on hosting its first global event since the 1996 World Cup.

Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi are the three venues that have been chosen to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 from February 19. January 25, 2025 is the deadline for the completion of works.

India are expected to play a practice match in Dubai ahead of their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, which will take place at the same venue, according to a report from India Today. The ICC is currently working on finalizing practice facilities across the four venues in Pakistan and organizing the warm-up schedule for the eight teams participating in the prestigious tournament.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is 40 days away, but stadiums in Pakistan are far from ready. Construction is still ongoing at venues in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. The ICC is concerned about the venues meeting requirements on time.

Earlier, reports claimed that the renovation works at the stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi still have a long way to go, with fencing work, floodlight placement, and finishing new multi-story enclosures being incomplete.