Pakistan: Playing facilities to be upgraded

Islamabad, Aug 19: Pakistan Cricket Board will work in coordination with the Rawalpindi administration to develop and upgrade the playing facilities in and around the city for the promotion of sports.

A detail for the upgradation of the sports facilities under the control of local administration, including the renovation of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, will be worked out within next two weeks and submitted to the chairman PCB Lt Gen. Tauqir Zia.

These decisions were taken during a meeting chaired by PCB chairman Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia at the conference hall of Pindi Stadium on Saturday evening. Commissioner Rawalpindi Maj (retd) Ziaul Haq, deputy commissioner Tariq Ayub, PCB officials Col (retd) Pervez, Yawar Saeed and Brig (retd) Shami, who has been appointed as incharge coordinator of Rawalpindi Stadium, attended the meeting.

It was learnt that the local administration had agreed, in principle, to hand over the cricket stadium on lease in lieu of development of other such facilities.

Talking to Dawn, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia dispelled the impressionthat the PCB was interested in immediate take over of the Rawalpindi Stadium. He added that the board will eventually take over the stadium but everything will be done in coordination of the local administration.

"I have assured the local administration that the cricket board will go all out to develop the additional facilities in and around the stadium according to the plan which includes construction of swimming pool, gymnasium etc.," he said.

The PCB chairman maintained that since one of the cricket academies will be established at Rawalpindi, therefore, these facilities were necessary.

Besides, he said that in order to promote it in other parts of the city, it was equally essential to develop other areas especially Murree where summer cricket can be organised. "I told them to identify such areas so that we can work in coordination for the development of sports in the area by creating better infra-structure," he added.

He said that a municipal stadium at Saidpur Road, Rawalpindi, which is utilised for football, kabaddi and cricket will be upgraded once the local administration provides the details.

The general said that the financial position of the PCB was not as strong as perhaps of the Indian board. However, efforts are afoot to generate more funds.

"We have our limitations, but I am hopeful that with new deals we will generate funds especially keeping in view the vision 2001 cricket development programme," he concluded.