Majid cancels visit to Niaz Stadium (19 Aug 1997)

19 August 1997

Majid cancels visit to Niaz Stadium

By Our Sports Reporter

KARACHI, Aug 18: The chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has cancelled his visit to Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad. Instead, the PCB boss will meet the Sindh chief secretary and Commissioners of Karachi and Hyderabad here on Tuesday.

Majid Khan is also scheduled to visit Karachi Press Club where he will appear in `Meet the Press.' Majid is accompanied by Tahir Memon, Waqar Ahmad and Asad Aziz.

On Monday, the officials of the Hyderabad and Karachi cricket associations called on the PCB chief executive.

It is believed that the Hyderabad office-bearers, Yar Mohammad Solangi and Majeed Khan, briefed the PCB chief executive about the condition of the Niaz Stadium. Reports reaching here give a different picture of the ground which last hosted an international match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 1991-92.

The Hyderabad officials claim that the ground is in perfect condition while PCB chief curator, Bashir Ahmad, endorses their views saying the ground is getting greener. The water-logging problem, he adds, has also been resolved by putting in a suction pump which takes away all the waters and throws in a separate tank. Nevertheless, independent sources emphasises that the condition of the Niaz Stadium was pathetic as the dressing rooms and media facilities were close to non-existent. The stairs are broken and there are no facilities for the spectators, including drinking water lines, tabs and toilet facilities.

No KCCA official was available to give details of their meeting with Majid Khan but it is presumed that Nusrat Azeem (president) and Prof Sirajul Islam Bokhari (secretary) have assured the PCB chief that the matches here will be organised in a benefiting manner.

It was not known if the KCCA repeated their protest against the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy draws or not. It may be recalled that KCCA has threatened to withdraw from the premier competition if the draws were not altered.

Source:: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)