Lahore: The International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation has arrived in Pakistan to review preparations for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
The five-member team conducted a detailed inspection of the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Thursday morning, The Express Tribune reported.
The delegation assessed the ongoing construction and renovation work at the venue. PCB officials and representatives from the construction company briefed the delegation on the progress and timeline of the ongoing projects. Arshad Khan, the General Manager of the stadium, was also present during the visit, according to the report.
The ICC delegation toured the under-construction five-story building, inspecting various sections. They also visited the main building of the stadium, including the media center, where they evaluated the facilities and toured the media gallery. The delegation reviewed the conference hall amenities and examined the records displayed on the walls, taking a keen interest and capturing photographs.
In addition, the delegation inspected the old building's dressing rooms, the Chairman's Box, and the PCB Gallery, taking notes and photographs throughout their visit.
The opening ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled for February 19 at the National Bank Stadium, with the first match to be played the same day between Pakistan and New Zealand. The stadium will host three matches during the tournament.
According to reports, ahead of the Champions Trophy, the venue will also host a tri-nation ODI series. The match match between Pakistan and South Africa is set for February 12, with the final scheduled for February 14.
This visit marks the fourth ICC delegation to Pakistan in preparation for the Champions Trophy.
Previously, ICC Security Head David Mascro led the initial visit. Subsequent visits included Senior Manager Event Operations Sarah Edgar and Manager Aun Zaidi, while the third visit was conducted by Aun Zaidi and broadcast overseer Mansoor Manch.
