Rawalpindi Stadium Archives

PCB Chairman reviews Rawalpindi Stadium upgradation ahead of Champions Trophy

RAWALPINDI: Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket (PCB), visited the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday to inspect the ongoing construction work ahead of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

PCB Chairman expressed satisfaction over the upgradation of the Rawalpindi Stadium as preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy are in its final phase.

During his visit to the stadium, he reviewed the renovation of the main pavilion, media boxes, and VIP enclosures, ensuring that all arrangements were on track for the mega event.

“The upgradation project is in its final stages, and I am pleased with the progress,” Naqvi said while inspecting the finishing work.

“The main pavilion and media box have been fully renovated, while the installation of chairs in the enclosures will be completed in the next few days.”

Mohsin Naqvi also assessed the proposed security arrangements for the participating teams and emphasized Pakistan’s readiness to host an ICC event after a long gap.

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“It’s a proud moment for Pakistan. We are fully prepared to make this tournament a grand success,” he stated.

“We will make this event truly memorable, and I hope cricket lovers will witness thrilling contests.”

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.

The eight-team tournament will consist of 15 matches over 19 days and will take place in Pakistan and Dubai.

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will host three matches in the tournament. Bangladesh will face New Zealand on 24 February, while Australia and South Africa will square off on 25 February.

The final match on the venue will be played between Pakistan and Bangladesh on 27 February.

READ: Shaheen Afridi reminisces Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2017 victory

Adamant rain washes out first Pakistan-New Zealand T20I

PAK vs NZ T20I: Pakistan to go full throttle against visitors in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: With probably just a day left in Eidul Fitr, Babar Azam-led Pakistan are hoping to give the nation an Eid gift they would love to receive – a series victory – by defeating New Zealand in the PAK vs NZ 4th T20 here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Click to Watch PAK vs NZ Live Match HD Streaming at ARY ZAP

After the action-filled first three T2OIs in Lahore, the Rawalpindi stadium awaits to welcome the two sides, especially their batters, for the last two matches of the five-game series.

The Green Shirts brought out their “A” game in front of a packed Gaddafi Stadium crowd, though they lost the last encounter when visitors snatched a close win by four runs and reduced the Pakistan vs New Zealand series deficit to 2-1.

However, greased-up Pakistan have a well-balanced playing lineup and all the necessary ingredients to counter the Blackcaps in every sphere of the game.

Babar and company look in sublime touch with the skipper leading the pack from the front. He remains the leading scorer for his side with 111 runs, including a phenomenal century in the second PAK vs NZ T20I.

Apart from Babar, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed and young sensation Saim Ayub have also showcased their intent with the bat on different occasions.

On the bowling front, the Green Shirts will be rooting on Haris Rauf to do his business as usual as he has already picked up ten wickets in three games.

Also, the left-arm pacer Shaheen, who is playing his first international series since the T20 World Cup final last year, has also returned with his signature celebration style after giving the side an early breakthrough.

Promising Ihsanullah, Zaman Khan and Naseem Khan comprised the rest of Pakistan’s pace attack.

Moreover, Imad Wasim and vice-captain Shadab Khan were in charge of the spin department with both having the ability to dismiss the well-set batters.

Besides, it will also be a double delight for Babar if he wins today’s contest. He would take an insurmountable lead in the series and also set the record for the most number of T20I wins as a captain.

He would surpass Afghanistan’s Asghar Afghan and England’s Eoin Morgan after leading the side to its 43rd win under his captaincy.

Meanwhile, rejuvenated by their first-ever T20I victory in Pakistan, Blackcaps will look to drag the results till the final game of the series as they gained sufficient confidence from that stunning win on Monday despite Iftikhar Ahmed’s heroic knock of 24-ball 60.

Though the touring party is missing several of its key players including Kane Williamson Kane Williamson, Glenn Phillips, Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Siefert, Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell, players like James Neesham, Mark Chapman and skipper Tom Latham have already shown what they are capable of.

Probable Playing XIs:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.

New Zealand: Tom Latham (c & wk), Chad Bowes, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, James Neesham. Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Ben Lister.

PAK vs NZ: Run-fest expected on batting-friendly Pindi pitches

After an exhilarating three T20Is, the ongoing five-match series PAK vs NZ T20I series approaches a key stage as the action shifts to Rawalpindi, known for delivering high-scoring contests on batting-friendly surfaces.

The ongoing PAK vs NZ T20I series is turning out to be a cracker, dominated by the home side until the touring side finally tasted triumph after a final-over thriller in the third fixture.

The three-match stint entertained Lahore fans to the fullest and they acknowledged it by filling up Gaddafi Stadium in each contest.

Meanwhile, the action now shifts to Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, which hosted astonishingly high-scoring clashes amid the recently-concluded eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Considered a nightmare for bowlers and paradise for the batters, the highest total in the history of the PSL was also recorded on the same surface.

Things will be no different this time around, primarily in the last two Pakistan vs New Zealand T20Is as the head curator of the Pindi Cricket Stadium Sarfraz Ahmad revealed there will be batting-friendly pitches.

“We have prepared different pitches for the four matches scheduled to be played at the Pindi Stadium during the next 12 days,” said Ahmad while talking to a local publication.

“The pitches during the T20I matches will be more or less the same that was available during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in March.

“Keeping in view the interest of cricket fans, T20 wickets should be more inclined toward the batter. The surfaces are being curated keeping in mind that aspect.

It must be noted here that New Zealand won their maiden T20I against Pakistan on the latter’s home soil last night and reduced the hosts’ advantage to 2-1 in the five-game series.

Set to chase 164, Pakistan failed just five short of victory as the home side could raise 159 before bundling out on the final delivery despite Iftikhar’s quickfire 60.

READ: You are not chacha: Afridi calls Iftikhar ‘boom boom’ after NZ T20I blitz