LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan will showcase its newly upgraded stadium at Lahore when it takes on New Zealand in the opening game Saturday of a tri-series cricket tournament, which also involves an understrength South Africa.

It’s a busy time for Pakistan cricket. The 35,000-capacity Gaddafi stadium has been upgraded in less than four months for the country’s first major ICC tournament in 29 years when it will host the eight-nation Champions Trophy, starting Feb. 19.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has upgraded three stadiums — at Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi — for the Champions Trophy.

Archrival India is the only participating team which will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. Instead, India will play all its games in Dubai, including the marquee group match between Pakistan and India on Feb. 23. The March 9 final will also be played at Dubai if India is one of the teams.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi described the upgrade of the stadiums as a “miracle,” while acknowledging the contribution of hundreds of workers at a luncheon on Friday.

“This is not the success of Mohsin Naqvi, it’s teamwork,” Naqvi said. “It was a challenging project because lots of our friends believed it won’t be completed. Everyone of you will be remembered because it was due to your untiring effort and the help of God almighty that this project is completed.”

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will inaugurate the stadium Friday evening and Naqvi said he will ask Sharif to announce awards for the workers.

Karachi will host two tri-series matches, including the final on Feb. 14.

In the absence of injured Saim Ayub, Pakistan has slotted its premier batter Babar Azam as one of the opening options with recalled Fakhar Zaman in both the tri-series and the Champions Trophy.

One of the world’s most prolific ODI batters in his usual No. 3 spot, Babar has played just two games as an opener in his glittering one-day international career.

Ayub was ruled out of the Champions Trophy after fracturing his right ankle during a test match against South Africa last month.

Pakistan has also recalled all-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah to give more bowling and batting options in the middle-order with Abrar Ahmed as the sole specialist spinner in the squad.

Shaheen Shah Afridi will spearhead Pakistan’s pace attack which also includes white-ball specialists Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain.