The Afghanistan vs. Australia Champions Trophy 2025 match was washed out due to rain on Friday due to poor outfield conditions at the recently renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, drawing additional criticism against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The weather prevented Australia from batting for 12.5 overs after Afghanistan reached 273. The umpires declared the outfield unfit for play, so even when the rain stopped, the game could not continue. The organizers were hampered by the outfield's inadequate drainage system, which resulted in several puddles.
Following the washout, commentators criticized the PCB, which reportedly spent Rs 18 billion Pakistani rupees to upgrade the Champions Trophy 2025 stadiums. Madan Lal, a former Indian all-rounder, claimed that the washout was a poor representation of Pakistan.
"This is a bad advertisement for Pakistan. Renovating a stadium is fine, but the drainage system and super sopper should be the number one priority. It isn’t good for Pakistan. I saw yesterday’s match and their method of getting the water out. There was a lot of criticism," Madan Lal told ANI.
Gaddafi stadium faces criticism
As supporters have now posted videos of water leaking through the roofs of restrooms at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the PCB's problems only appear to be getting worse. One such video shows water leaking through the stadium restroom ceiling. Waterlogging is also seen in the spectator stands in the videos that are doing the rounds on social media.
The most recent video has sparked worries about the caliber of hurriedly completed renovations in Pakistan. After Pakistan failed several deadlines, Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore reportedly underwent renovations in just 117 days. The stadium restrooms' leaky roofs, however, raise the possibility that the remodeling project fell short of expectations.