PESHAWAR
Pakistan Cricket Board General Manager Domestic Cricket Junaid Zia has said that Chairman Zaka Ashraf Sahib is serious about cricket in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
This he said while talking to media men here during his visit to hold meeting with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Sports Minister Najeebullah Khan Marwat to discuss PCB help in the completion of both international standard cricket venue in Peshawar – Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium and Hayatabad Cricket Stadium on which more than 85 construction work completed and the remaining is pending since long due to financial crunch in the province.
He said that Pakistan Cricket Board is ready to play its role in the completion of work on both international cricket venues so that to conduct the upcoming Pakistan Super League-9 edition matches some wherein next March-April.
“We want to conduct PSL-9 matches in KP, Junaid Zia said, adding, a new talent in the cricket team is coming from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is very encouraging,” said Junaid Zia, who is son of former Lt. Gen Tauqir Zia, who also remained at Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board.
“We wanted to hold the first class match in KP and completion of the two Stadia according to the international need is very essential,” Junaid Zia said. PCB does not make any excuses regarding the holding of PSL matches if the venues are in good shape, Junaid Zia said, adding, “The government has convinced itself that they want to hold matches at these two big cricketing Stadiums.” To check the stadium, the Caretaker Sports Minister Najeebullah Khan Marwat has directed to form a committee, Junaid Zia informed.
Caretaker Sports Minister Dr. Najeebullah while talking to media men soon after holding a meeting with Director PCB Domestic Cricket said that unfortunately, no international match has been played in the province for many years.
“We are going to hold three big matches in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the coming days and hopefully after ensuring by PCB for help out Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the two international standard venues – Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium and Hayatabad Cricket Ground would be completed very soon,” Dr. Najeebullah Khan Marwat said.
National and international players will be made part of the matches and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to hand over Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium and Hayatabad Cricket Ground
Arbab Niaz Stadium is going to be handed over to PCB soon, Dr. Najeebullah said. “We will complete this stadium as soon as possible,” Dr. Najeebullah said, adding, “Hayatabad Stadium will be handed over to PCB in two months.” “We will hand over Hayatabad Stadium to PCB on lease,” Dr. Najeebullah said.
