Visuals of the Gaddafi Stadium in Pakistan (Source: @meedaNadeem/@sohailimrangeo)
The highly-awaited Champions Trophy 2025 will likely begin in February next year, per reports. After seemingly non-ending discussions between The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the hybrid model was finally implemented.
As per this model, a neutral venue, i.e. Dubai, will host all of India's games during the tournament. At the same time, the rest of the teams will be travelling to Pakistan, where the tournament will proceed unhindered. However, a big sign of concern has been posed over whether or not Pakistan is ready to host the tournament, as the latest visuals of the Gaddafi Stadium paint a different picture.
The deadline for venue completion is expected to be at the end of this month, i.e. December 2024. In the video, the venue looks far from near completion as the building seems incomplete, and with the deadline approaching, there is a strong chance that it will not be ready by then. Another video from inside the venue shows a stadium worker manually putting the seats.
Pakistan's Gaddafi Stadium Still Under Construction
What is the Hybrid Model Agreement between India and Pakistan?
Neutral Venues: India's matches during tournaments in Pakistan and Pakistan's matches in tournaments in India will be held at neutral venues.
Start Date: The agreement begins with the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Other Tournaments: It includes major events like the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup (co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka) and the Women’s ODI World Cup in India.
Goal: The model aims to prevent political tensions between India and Pakistan by ensuring their matches are played at neutral locations.
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