Islamabad won’t be getting an international cricket stadium anytime soon, according to Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa.
Speaking to Geo News on Thursday, Randhawa dismissed reports about a stadium project, saying, “There is currently no plan to construct a cricket stadium in Islamabad.”
Instead, the CDA is focusing on smaller sports facilities across the city. Randhawa revealed that 25 cricket grounds and 25 football grounds are set to be developed to give more opportunities to the youth.
One of the major projects under way is the upgrade of the ground in F-9 Park, being carried out with technical input from former cricketer Rashid Latif.
On the possibility of a dedicated stadium in the future, Randhawa said the CDA has held discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). However, the final call will be taken only after expert consultation. “Experts will help us identify a suitable location for a future cricket stadium in Islamabad,” he said.
The CDA chairman also underlined the need for building quality pitches that meet international standards in all new cricket grounds. He added that the city’s administration is working on a wide range of sports facilities to keep up with the needs of Islamabad’s growing population.
