The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) held a grand unveiling ceremony on Tuesday to showcase the newly upgraded National Stadium in Karachi. The venue will host the Tri-Nation series match between Pakistan and South Africa.
The stadium will also host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19. Additionally, it will be the battleground for South Africa’s matches against Afghanistan and England.
Social media was flooded with videos from the grand ceremony, capturing the excitement of passionate cricket fans. One viral clip showed enthusiastic spectators scaling walls and jumping railings in a desperate attempt to enter the stadium. The massive crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of their favorite cricket stars. However The Free Press Journal (FPJ) may not be able to verify the authenticity of a video shared on social media.
PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi Lauds Workers
During his speech at the ceremony, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed immense gratitude to the workforce behind the stadium’s transformation. Naqvi stated, "I salute the dedication of these workers. Their incredible efforts have turned this venue into a world-class stadium, ready to host the best cricketing action,".
He further emphasized that every worker played a crucial role in making this dream a reality and ensured that fans would get the opportunity to watch high-quality cricket in a modernized setting.
Just couple of days back Naqvi hosted a special lunch to honour the relentless efforts of over 1,500 labourers who played a crucial role in completing the renovation of Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
He personally visited the workers and shared a meal with them, and even expressed his appreciation for their dedication. During the event, the PCB Chairman went beyond formalities, interacting with the workers, taking selfies, and engaging in heartfelt conversations.
