The National Stadium in Karachi has begun removing a large electronic screen that obstructed views for fans as part of ongoing renovations in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy. The screen, located near the University Road end in the Intikhab Alam Enclosure, blocked visibility for approximately 1,500 seats.
The dismantling process involves taking down the LED panels before proceeding with the rest of the structure. In addition to the main screen, a smaller screen in front of the Waqar Hasan Enclosure has already been removed.
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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi directed the removal during a recent visit to the stadium. This renovation effort is part of a broader initiative to enhance facilities at stadiums in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy.
The PCB is considering relocating the main screen to a higher position between the Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas enclosures, pending a survey. Plans are also in place to install two larger screens at elevated positions on either side of mid-wicket to improve the viewing experience for fans.
Last month, the International Cricket Council (ICC) expressed satisfaction with the PCB’s preparations for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Naqvi assured ICC board members that all renovation work at the proposed venues would be completed before the tournament begins, with an invitation extended for ICC members to visit Pakistan to evaluate the preparations firsthand.
The tournament is scheduled from February 19 to March 9, 2025, with the final set for March 9 and a reserve day on March 10. Eight teams will participate, with Pakistan in Group A alongside India, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, while Group B consists of England, South Africa, Australia, and Afghanistan. Matches will be held across Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, with Karachi hosting the tournament opener and one semi-final.