The Pakistan Cricket Board(PBC) has strongly denied the ongoing rumour that Imran Khan’s name would be erased from an enclosure at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, which is under renovation. Speculation was rife that the name of the former cricket captain had to be removed from the stadium due to legal trouble and imprisonment.
However, the PCB stated they have not made any changes regarding the structures or names of the stadium. This assurance has been given while preparing the venue for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
The enclosure named after Imran Khan, the captain who led the 1992 World Cup-winning team, has remained unchanged since Pakistan’s milestone victory. According to a PCB representative, a statement published on the Cricket Pakistan website read: “There have been no changes to the names of enclosures. All enclosures remain as they were”.
This recent talk of renaming coincided with Imran Khan’s incarceration after being convicted in a corruption case that he claims is politically motivated. The former prime minister and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were jailed in January 2024, but Khan continues to proclaim his innocence.
Moreover, Gaddafi Stadium upgrade Special Committee has a lot of work scheduled for changes before the start of the event, on February 19, 2025. The PCB source stated that handover to the International Cricket Council (ICC) will take place on February 11, right after the tri-nation series between Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa.
National Stadium, Karachi, and Rawalpindi stadium are also under rehabilitation for the tournament, whereas matches in India will be held at Dubai due to security-related issues. While some logistical bottlenecks have arisen-such as delays in finalizing Pakistan’s squad and the injury updates of player Saim Ayub-the PCB remains hopeful of delivering a solid event as the first ICC major since 1996.