Lahore, October 6: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to develop two new stadia and upgrade the Niaz Stadium in addition to Rani Bagh Cricket ground that is nearing completion in Hyderabad. The decision was taken by the Chairman of the PCB Lt Gen Tauqir Zia at the cricket headquarters Saturday evening.

The meeting, that was also attended by Director Chishty Mujahid and General Manager Development Irfan Mirza, also took other important decisions regarding development that would increase the playing facilities in the country. Infrastructure development has been on the top priority of the present PCB setup and already 14 brand new stadia have been completed while finishing touches are being given to seven.

As regards development in Hyderabad, the PCB Chairman assigned Irfan Mirza to find suitable land and launch the projects without any delay. The General Manager Development has planned his visit to Hyderabad next week to meet the officials of the district cricket official and City Nazim. He would be seeking their support and assistance in that context.

The PCB Chairman also expressed his keenness to take over the Niaz Stadium while observing that if the ground was to be developed and maintained, the PCB needed to control it. As soon as Niaz Stadium is handed over to the PCB, plans to bring it at par with other centres like National Stadium and Gaddafi Stadium would be launched.

The PCB has already held several discussions with the relevant officials to get possession of the Niaz Stadium. It was hoped in Saturday's meeting that the matter would end soon so that the cricket starved followers in Hyderabad are no more deprived of international cricket at home.

It was also agreed that Minto Park in Lahore will be uplifted because of its historical prospective and background. The Chairman approved Irfan Mirza's proposal of improving and increasing practice facilities that include nets and pitches. "I want to see better and improved facilities at Minto Park because Pakistan cricket has nice memories of this ground. Unfortunately, not much attention has been paid to this centre and I would like that it re-emerges as the ground that produced world beating cricketers," he told the meeting.

The Chairman also approved upgradation plan of Pindi Club Ground in Rawalpindi, once a regular test and one-day centre. Upgradation include players dressing room, pavilion and exclusive net practice area.

Besides the five major centres, the PCB Chairman also agreed in principle to start fresh development or upgradation work on 23 more grounds. However, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia made it clear that PCB would only invest on these grounds if the local authorities would provide the basic civic requirements like water and electricity at the venues.

The Chairman directed General Manager Development to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the local associations/institutions/districts in which one of the clauses will be that the facility would be available to the local clubs and cricketers.

Last year in the first phase of development programme in lieu of Vision-2005, that is nearing conclusion, the PCB Chairman had given approval 51 grounds - 25 new stadia and upgradation of 26.

The following grounds would be developed:

Punjab: Moeen Cricket Stadium (Sargodha), Islamic University (Bahawalpur), Hafizabad Cricket Ground (Hafizabad), Dera Ghazi Khan Stadium (Dera Ghazi Khan), National Defense College (Islamabad), POF Wah Cricket Ground (Wah), Punjab Cricket Club ground (Lahore), Diamond Cricket Club (Islamabad), Bhakar Cricket Stadium (Bhakar), Garrison Park (Sialkot), Cricket Stadium Kasur (Kasur), University Old Campus ground (Lahore).

Sindh: Two grounds at Karachi in different zones, two grounds in Hyderabad, Niaz Stadium (Hyderabad), Shahi Bagh (Sikarpur)

NWFP: Dera Ismail Khan Cricket Ground (Dera Ismail Khan), Kohat Stadium (Kohat), Mardan Cricket Stadium (Mardan), Swat Cricket Stadium (Swat), Manshera Cricket Stadium (Manshera), Swabi Cricket Ground (Swabi).

Balochistan: Kalat Cricket Ground (Kalat), Qasim Baloch Cricket Ground (Quetta), Cricket Ground Sibi (Sibi), Mannan Memorial Gymkhana (Kuchlak).

SAMIUL HASAN
G.M MEDIA
October 6, 2002

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