Pakistan: Niaz Stadium being used as helipad (1 Sep 1997)

01 September 1997

Niaz Stadium being used as helipad

By Our Correspondent

HYDERABAD, Aug 31: Niaz Stadium which is being readied for hosting one-day match on Sept 30 between Pakistan and India is still being used as a helipad for the 'VIPs'.

On Saturday, a senior police officer travelling in the official helicopter chose to land at the stadium's green outfield, whose dilapidation had earlier compelled the concerned quarters of cricket not to allot a single match of the World Cup 1996 to this ground.

The authorities have recently claimed that the ground is in perfect condition but nevertheless the municipal staff could be seen busy in maintaining and preparing the outfield of the ground. When the senior police official was dropped by the chopper he then boarded his official vehicle which, too, was parked alongside the boundary line of the ground, a witness confirmed.

The ground, which would also be hosting a three-year between Pakistan and the West Indies in November this year, needed due attention of the authorities concerned and this trend of landing of choppers on the ground's outfield should now be brought to an end keeping in view the availability of other such places, including police ground, which is more secure than Niaz Stadium.

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