The Pakistan Cricket Board's ambitious stadium renovation project for the Champions Trophy has hit a significant hurdle, with costs spiralling by 5 billion Pakistani rupees (approximately USD 20.4 million or ₹1.76 crore). The revised budget now stands at 18 billion rupees, marking a steep rise from the initial 12.3 billion estimate. Emergency measures With the tournament's February 19 start date approaching, the PCB's Board of Governors has sanctioned an emergency overdraft facility of 3-6 billion rupees. This unprecedented move comes as Pakistan prepares to host multiple international teams, while India's matches remain scheduled in Dubai. Financial context Despite maintaining healthy reserves of 26 billion rupees in the previous fiscal year, recent developments have strained the board's finances. A disappointing broadcast rights deal for 2024-26 yielded only 1.70 billion rupees, significantly below the PCB's expectations. Recovery strategy The PCB is actively pursuing multiple revenue streams to address the shortfall: Infrastructure scope The renovation project targets three major cricket venues: The Dawn newspaper reports that PCB's Chief Financial Officer has warned of potential long-term financial support requirements, marking a departure from the board's tradition of financial self-sufficiency since its establishment.Original Article