Special Assistant for Information and Higher Education Kamran Bangash Friday said that construction work at Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium entered into the last stage and hopefully Peshawar would be able to host next PSL 7-edition matches.
Talking to media men soon after attending the briefing during his visit to review the overall ongoing construction work, Karam Bangash said that Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has instructed him to review the ongoing construction work. He said that 60 to 65 percent construction work, mostly concrete work, over Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium has been completed that cost Rs. 1.97 billion.
He said, it is a day of great joy, two international standard stadiums are being built under the leadership of Chief Minister KP Mahmood Khan and with the vision of the Prime Minister Imran Khan. He said the youths of Peshawar and the rest of the province are being facilitated with international standard playground facilities.
He said, International players will soon be welcomed back in Peshawar and people of Peshawar will once again be able to host international standard cricket. All the concrete work of the stadium should be completed by July while the work of ground, making pitches as per the set standard of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and International Cricket Council (ICC) would be started after the end of July with installation of chairs, lights and other decorations.
Kamran Bangash expressed his satisfaction over the ongoing construction work at Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium and termed the construction of Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium is the greatest news for the people of Peshawar because through this way international cricket would be coming back.
He said Peshawar will be a key contributor in international cricket by having two international cricket stadia – Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium and state of the art Hayatabad Cricket Stadium.
He said it is a very positive and productive step of the KP government for the construction of two world class cricket stadiums.
Kamran Khan said that Chief Minister Mahmood Khan is taking personal interest in the promotion of sports in the province. He said after a year and so both the Stadiums would have a key role in bringing international cricket to KP. He disclosed that Hayatabad Sports Complex will have special facilities for the women cricketers.
Answering a question, he said, he would talk with Chief Minister KP Mahmood Khan about handing over Gymkhana Cricket Ground to Directorate of Sports KP so it could be developed alongside Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium as far as setting up international standard cricket Academy is concerned.
e said, every effort is being made to have the next PSL 7-edition matches in Peshawar. He said after the completion of the stadium, it will have a seating capacity of more than 28,000 spectators with three-star player-hostel facilities, swimming pool, National Cricket Academy Lahore like NCA-Peshawar, world-class pitches, pavilions with state-of-the-art other facilities similar to that is in Abu Dubai Cricket Stadium.
Kamran Khan dispelled the impression of any funds shortage, saying: “There is no issue of funds for the construction of the stadium.” The government and the people want the stadium to be completed as soon as possible, Karam Khan said.
Earlier, in his briefing, DG Sports KP Asfandyar Khattak said that the development work on stadium upgrade at a cost of Rs 1.97 billion and it would be ready by Dec this year and will be handed over to the PCB for ground and pitches work.
He said the civil work will be completed by October this year. Mr. Khattak said that eighty percent construction work on the 24-room hostel adjacent to the stadium has been completed and work on both Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium and Hayatabad Cricket Stadiums continued without any delay.
Later on, Karam Khan has a detailed visit to the Arbab Cricket Stadium. He was accompanied by DG Sports KP Asfandyar Khan Khattak, Deputy Director Planning and Games Niamat Ullah Marwat, officials of the C&W, District Sports Office Peshawar Tehsin Ullah Khan, Secretary General AIPs Asia Amjad Aziz Malik, President Sports Writers Association KP Ijaz Ahmad Khan Daudzai and Engineers of the Engineering Wing, contractors were also present.
