Naqvi inspects National Bank Stadium

Pakistan Cricket B1oard (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi visited the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday to assess the progress of its ongoing renovation in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy. During his inspection, Naqvi reviewed the upgrades and oversaw the construction work underway.

Naqvi emphasized the need to speed up construction efforts, aiming for the renovations to meet the ICC's standards by the December 15 deadline. He noted that the modernization of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi is on track to be completed on time. Addressing the setup of stadium amenities, Naqvi specifically directed the installation of new, elevated screen boards to provide better viewing angles for fans.

"Raising the screen will ensure that spectators have an unobstructed view of the matches," he stated.

Naqvi also instructed authorities to establish parking facilities closer to the stadium to improve the fan experience. Acknowledging the event's significance, he remarked, "Hosting the Champions Trophy is an honor for Pakistan, and we are committed to completing the project on schedule."

PCB's media advisor Aamir Mir, General Manager of the National Bank Cricket Stadium Arshad Khan, and senior FWO officials joined Naqvi during the visit. FWO representatives briefed Naqvi on the project's status with visual diagrams and updates, as the chairman captured the ongoing work on his mobile.

With an overall budget of PKR 12.8 billion allocated for the Champions Trophy preparations, Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium is set to receive PKR 7.7 billion, Karachi's National Bank Stadium PKR 3.5 billion, and Rawalpindi Stadium PKR 1.5 billion.

As per the tournament's preliminary draft, the Champions Trophy opener will take place on February 19, 2025, in Karachi, featuring a match between host and defending champion Pakistan and New Zealand. The first semi-final is also scheduled for Karachi, while the second semi-final will take place in Rawalpindi on March 6, followed by the final at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 9.

An ICC delegation, which previously inspected the facilities, expressed confidence in Pakistan's preparations and is expected to revisit the stadiums to finalize their report ahead of the event.

Saud, Noman improve ICC Rankings

Pakistan's Saud Shakeel and Noman Ali have made significant strides in the ICC Test Rankings following their impressive performances in the recent Test series against England.

After suffering a heavy loss in the first Test, Pakistan made four major changes to the team, which proved to be a smart move. The spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali stepped in for Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, revitalizing the team's performance. Together, they took an incredible 39 out of 40 England wickets in the next two Tests, helping Pakistan secure its first home Test series victory since 2021.

Noman Ali excelled in his role, claiming 20 wickets in just two Tests. This outstanding performance pushed him up eight spots to a career-best ninth in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings, with 759 rating points. Meanwhile, Sajid Khan also had a fantastic outing, taking 19 wickets and rising 12 places to reach 38th position.

On the batting side, Pakistan's vice-captain Saud Shakeel played a crucial role by scoring a determined 134 runs in the third Test. This remarkable innings allowed him to leap 20 spots, landing him in seventh place in the ICC Test Batting Rankings. With 724 points, he is now the highest-ranked Pakistani batter in the Test rankings.

Babar Azam, meanwhile, moved up one position to 18th place with 670 points. However, Pakistan's newly appointed white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha experienced declines in their rankings, dropping to 22nd and 21st places, respectively.