PCB yet to decide on Niaz Stadium
The fate of Niaz Stadium hangs in balance as no decision has yet been taken whether the ground is to be handed over to the Pakistan Cricket Board or not for upgradation
M.H. Khan
31-Jan-2006
The fate of Niaz Stadium hangs in balance as no decision has
yet been taken whether the ground is to be handed over to
the Pakistan Cricket Board or not for upgradation.
The PCB is currently developing a ground, located in
Municipal Zoo, as a part of its Infrastructure Development
Programme.
The project was to be completed by August this year but it
has not been done. The ground was being prepared for
domestic circuit. When the PCB chairman visited Hyderabad in
July last year, he had expressed his willingness to develop
and upgrade the Stadium.
The idea for upgrading the Stadium seemed to have been
dropped.The option of handing over possession of Stadium to
PCB on lease could be worked out.
A proposal for constructing a new cricket stadium of
international standard was also considered instead of
developing or upgrading Niaz Stadium after the chairman's
visit keeping in view the fact that a huge amount would be
incurred on the development of Niaz Stadium alone.
The PCB had estimated Rs 20 million as over all expenditure to
renovate and upgrade the Stadium. But the PCB opted for the
development of ground in Municipal Zoo and the defunct
Hyderabad Municipal Corporation with signature of its
outgoing Administrator Shams Jafrani handed over possession
of ground in Zoo to PCB for development.
A former senior official of HMC claimed that when PCB sought
complete transfer of the ground at that time, the HMC was
not ready to transfer complete control and hand over
possession of Stadium to PCB because it would cease its
right of ownership of the Stadium in that case.
On Tuesday Anwar Khan, a former Test cricketer representing
Cricket Management Committee chairman Iqbal Qasim, visited
the Niaz Stadium following reports of its poor condition.
Now the grass is being mowed. A tractor of the ground has
been brought back. He has expressed the hope that the
Patron's Trophy match of Nov 2 to be played between KRL and
Customs would be held as per schedule.