The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday, January 16, imposed restrictions on journalists’ access and movement at the under-construction stadiums in Karachi and Lahore. This decision followed incidents where vloggers visited the sites and recorded videos of the ongoing work.
The footage sparked criticism on social media, with fans questioning whether the PCB could complete the renovations in time for the Champions Trophy.
The PCB faces a tight deadline to finish the stadium upgrades before next month’s tournament. The project, initiated by PCB Chair Mohsin Naqvi roughly a year ago, still appears far from completion, according to recent video evidence.
You can watch the video here:
https://x.com/sohailimrangeo/status/1877924963212198226?s=46
PCB Chairman Admits Pakistan’s Cricket Venues Fell Short of Global Standards in 2024
In 2024, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi acknowledged that none of Pakistan’s international cricket venues met global standards. He emphasized that it was the PCB’s duty to upgrade the facilities ahead of the Champions Trophy.
“There is a huge difference in international stadiums and those of ours. None of our stadiums are of international standard,” Mohsin Naqvi said, justifying PCB’s initiative to renovate the stadiums.
Moving forward, media access to the stadiums will be restricted to a designated day each week, during which journalists can tour the venues and record videos under the supervision of PCB media representatives.
“It has become irritating for us the way some people are constantly going to the stadiums without permission and filming or talking about minor issues of construction work and presenting their views on preparations for the mega event,” an insider in the board told new agency PTI.
He explained that the decision to limit media access at the stadiums was made because “conflicting reports are being picked up by international media,” creating the perception that Pakistan is unprepared to host the Champions Trophy.
Karachi’s National Stadium is set to host the tournament’s opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19.
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