Pakistan has missed a second deadline to complete preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, causing significant concern within the International Cricket Council (ICC).

With just over a month before the tournament begins, key venues in Karachi and Lahore remain far from ready, with construction and upgrades still underway, as per reports.

Lahore and Karachi are the main venues under heavy construction, leaving little time for the venues to meet ICC’s standards, sparking informal discussions about relocating the tournament to the UAE, as per reports.

An ICC inspection team is reportedly set to visit Pakistan on Jan 12 to assess progress and evaluate contingency options.

Major delays persist in completing essential features like seating, floodlights, dressing rooms, hospitality boxes, outfields, and playing surfaces, suggested the reports.

Lahore and Karachi are the main venues under heavy construction, with their multi-storied enclosures yet to reach the finishing stages.

This leaves little time for the venues to meet ICC's stringent standards, sparking informal discussions about relocating the tournament to the UAE.

An ICC inspection team is set to visit Pakistan soon to assess progress and evaluate contingency options, as per reports. If the PCB fails to meet the upcoming deadlines, the tournament may have to be moved, as playing at semi-finished venues is not viable.

 With time running out, both the ICC and PCB face mounting pressure to resolve the situation and deliver on their commitments.