The newly renovated National Stadium was inaugurated in a glittering ceremony on Tuesday ahead of the much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Representing President Asif Ali Zardari at the ceremony, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori jointly inaugurated the newly upgraded National Bank Stadium.
The event was also attended by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, national team, former cricketers and several other dignitaries.
The star-studded opening ceremony will feature renowned national singers Shafqat Amanat Ali, Ali Zafar, and Sahir Ali Bagga.
The stadium’s construction, which took four months, now features world-class facilities for players and spectators. A new pavilion — the University Road End — was also officially opened.
The new pavilion includes world-class dressing rooms for players and match officials, complemented by high-quality hospitality rooms.
The PCB released an official statement regarding the constructing and upgrading the National Stadium in Karachi.
“Developed in a record time of around four months, the facility underscores the dedication and efficiency behind the stadium’s rapid transformation,” the cricket board said in an official statement.
It’s worth noting that the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February, with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.
