ISLAMABAD, May 15; The head of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday said that there was now an element of urgency in upgrading the Rawalpindi Stadium and building a new one in Islamabad as important events were to be hosted.
Shaharyar M. Khan, speaking at the closing of the PCB National Schools Championship (Islamabad) at the Diamond Ground, said that he personally wanted work on the two stadia begin today.
“We have to upgrade the Rawalpindi Stadium which I think is as important as making a new stadium in Islamabad.”
Pakistan are to host the 2011 World Cup, the 2008 Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup.
The PCB has now reportedly been given the cricketing control of the Rawalpindi Stadium following months of negotiations with a Rawalpindi administration that was previously reluctant to let go of the venue.
Shaharyar assured the president of Islamabad Cricket Association (ICA) Shakil Shaikh that his association will fully be a part of the new stadium in the capital.
The PCB boss is due to meet the chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA) Kamran Lashari on Tuesday in connection with the Islamabad Stadium. Officials of ICA are also likely to attend the meeting.
This is certainly good news and I feel that we definitely need a stadium of international standard – similar to the ones in Australia and South Africa. There is a definite need of a new ground since the ICC recently told the PCB that a lot of the grounds in Pakistan are not up to the ICC standard.
The natural surroundings around Islamabad can make this proposed ground the most picturesque in the country. If the proposal does go ahead then I hope its planned properly i.e. architecture (no tin roofs – like the Multan stadium even though the stadium is very nice the roofs doesn’t do any justice to it), prepare proper surface under the grass so that the ground is not hard, provide the latest facilities to the players and the public i.e. indoor practice nets etc.
Also something else we should bear in mind is that the this new stadium may not be ready for the ICC champions trophy in 2008. Therefore this stadium will take time to build if its built properly and likely to be used for the 2011 World cup. Given the nature of the political climate in Pakistan and the change of government or events will this stadium still go ahead? If the government changes then so does the PCB - will they carry on with the proposed project?
The reason I am questioning this is that from past experience this has happened. If I remember correctly when the World cup was last held on the sub-continent I think Nawaz Sharif (can't remember he was PM or Chief Minister) proposed a new stadium in Lahore, then Zardari comes along and scraps plans and renovates the Qadaffi stadium. I hope something like this doesn't happen again.
Mighty decent news, certainly. Given the lush greenery throughout, one feel, that apart from building a completely separate stadium in the capital region, there should also be mandatory plans in order to renovate the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium as soon as possible, alongwith the redesigning of the architecture of Arbab Niaz Stadium as well, which has been stamped by the ICC as incompetent and not fit upto International standards.
On a sidenote, relating to the replay screens, it has been said that the entire sets of giant TV displays will be imported for better viewing pleasure, but is it known as to in which stadium(s) will those screens be installed? Is there a specific city-name attached to it, or is it not known at this point?
What you mean is the ground to close to Islamabd Sports Complex and Fatima Jinnah Park? Is there much space or enough land available to build a new stadium there?
Fatima Jinnah Park is spread across 750-acre of land. The article below has painted a deplorable picture of this piece of land, dated back on Friday, October 24, 2003.
Jinnah Park in state of abject disrepair
By Shahzad Zahid
ISLAMABAD: Fatima Jinnah Park is deteriorating due to a lack of proper maintenance by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), regular visitors to the park say. However, CDA officials complain they have never had enough money to properly maintain the park.
Situated in the heart of Islamabad, Fatima Jinnah Park is one of the largest public parks in Asia that gives city residents an atmosphere free of pollution for exercise or meditation.
The CDA has a separate directorate to look after the park, but does not employ enough gardeners to keep up the grounds, or enough guards for security. The CDA has put on various fund raising events with environmental organisations for tree plantation campaigns, but these have not been very successful. Large parts of the park consist of bushy fields, while the trees that are there have been around for as long as the city itself.
The CDA claims national and international investors are interested in developing an amusement centre in the park, but large parts of the grounds are untouched. Vast areas are plunged into darkness at night, with the weak lamps providing only a few metres of visibility.
Parts of the ground that are well maintained are not open to the general public, such as the cricket ground, which is run by the Islamabad Club. There are some tennis courts, but these require a hefty Rs 2,000 membership fee. Hot Shot, the sole health club and restaurant, next to a small shopping complex, is also too expensive for most people.
But there are free exercise facilities, such as the 2.5-kilometre jogging track and 3.5-kilometre metalled walking track. Then there is a public toilet, and a deserted building, whose purpose has never been clear. Most people can’t decide whether it’s an auditorium or aquarium.
A more recent visit to the park by this person - dated Wednesday, May 10, 2006 (a nice little paragraph below) provides us with an update -
Improvements in F-9 Park
Kaswar Klasra
A few days ago I went to Fatima Jinnah Park, Islamabad, for a walk. Because of the weekend the park was over-crowded with people. The entire atmosphere was delightful because of the new lighting on the jogging track. It was also appealing as I was visiting the park after four months and was keenly noticing the changes. There is a new fitness club for adults and a playground for children in the park. The number of security guards has been also increased. All this is a good addition from the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The club also provides certain game facilities of international standards to the visitors at nominal charges. The departmental store is a beautiful place where one can enjoy shopping. No doubt the parks have now become the best places for people to get recreation and relax after long working hours. The recent arrangement from the CDA shows that it is determined to provide the community with better facilities so that the people can make their evenings more pleasant and memorable.
Possibly, those who have seen and witnessed the current conditions of the park itself can perhaps shed some more light into this issue and whether or not the above text portrays the sole truth.
ISLAMABAD:The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) plan to construct a stadium in Islamaba for the 2011 World Cup has run into problems, a Board official said on Monday.
The PCB chose the capital for its new stadium as it does not have an international cricket venue, but the official said the city planners were demanding $5 million (five million US dollars) in leasing charges alone.
Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will co-host the World Cup in 2011. Pakistan will also stage the 2008 International Cricket Council Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup. “They (the city planners) are giving us land for the stadium on a long-term lease but the fees they are demanding are exorbitant,” the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
The PCB, despite being the richest sports body in the country, does not actually own any of the country’s stadiums. Those it has direct administrative control over are on long-term lease. The Pakistan Cricket Board controls stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Quetta while those in Multan, Rawalpind, Peshawar and Faisalabad are managed by the local authorities.
“We want the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to revise their leasing fees. “We will be talking to them to sort out this problem as we want to start the construction soon,” the official said.
“If things don’t work out with the Capital Development Authority then we will have to manage with the existing venues,” he said, adding that the work to upgrade the National Stadium, Karachi would also begin soon.
I had alway had a funny feeling that this project will not be completed on time for the ICC trophy as it is likely to face problems/issues. It’s looks as though that the stadium - may not be built at all. If they can’t resolve the above - why can’t find alternative venue in some other city?