PESHAWAR: Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium Peshawar is gearing up to host matches after nearly 20 years.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering holding two Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Peshawar in April this year. In this regard, a representative of the International Cricket Council (ICC) visited the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium, where police officials gave him a detailed briefing on the security situation.
According to police officials, security arrangements were reviewed for foreign players at the ground, pavilion area, hotel route and around the stadium. Proposals for a shuttle service, monitoring with drone cameras and construction of a helipad near the stadium for the convenience of the public were also considered.
Police officials have assured that satisfactory security arrangements will be made for foreign players. The last international match at the Arbab Niaz Stadium was played between Pakistan and India in 2006.
According to officials, there are several reasons for the lack of international and PSL matches in Peshawar. Construction work is currently underway at the city’s only international-standard cricket stadium.
The construction work on the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium began in 2018 and the then Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government had claimed to complete the work in 2 years and pave the way for international and national cricket competitions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has not been fulfilled yet.
According to officials of the sports department, the construction work was delayed for various reasons. An official of the department admitted on condition of anonymity that the work was unnecessarily delayed, resulting in the province’s deprivation of cricket matches.
He said several factors contributed to the construction work’s late completion, but lack of funds and the Coronavirus epidemic were among the major ones.
The officer said that the province is economically weak and the work had to be stopped due to a lack of funds.
He said that the work was affected by the coronavirus epidemic.
He said that the delay in the work also increased the cost, which has now reached Rs 3 billion from the initial estimate of Rs 1.37 billion, while a lot of work is still to be done.
When will the stadium be completed?
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is also worried about the delay in the construction work on the Arbab Niaz Stadium. Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Syed Fakhar Jahan reviewed the work with the concerned authorities last week. According to him, 80 percent of the work on the stadium has been completed while the remaining work is also progressing rapidly.
He said that the construction work of the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium Peshawar will be completed by February 15, after which the stadium will be available for Pakistan Cricket League matches and the provincial government will try to have PSL matches played in Peshawar.
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Syed Fakhar Jahan said that the civil work of the stadium will be done in double shifts so that the remaining work can be completed in February and it will be possible to hold PSL matches in Peshawar next year.
On the other hand, the government official supervising the construction work at the stadium said that civil work and painting are currently underway and then the electrical work will start.
The last international one-day match was played between Pakistan and India in 2006 at the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium in Peshawar, where Pakistan won, after which international matches were not held due to lack of facilities.
The stadium is being built according to international standards, former cricketer Muhammad Akram
Former cricketer Muhammad Akram is overseeing the arrangements for the Zalmi League at the Arbab Niaz Stadium. He said that work is underway on Arbab Niaz Stadium and it is being built according to international standards. He said that hostels are also being built along with the stadium.
He said that after the work is completed, the doors of cricket in Peshawar will reopen.
After the stadium is built, more than 30,000 fans will be able to watch matches. He further said that chairs have been installed in the stadium.
He expressed hope that international matches will start in Peshawar after security clearance. He said that the stadium is being built according to ICC standards and if the funds continue to be provided, the work will be completed on time.
