Abbottabad Cricket Stadium: A Neglected ground in PCB's Portfolio
Nestled
in the picturesque city of Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, lies the Abbottabad
Cricket Stadium, a prime asset owned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Established in 2003, this venue has hosted numerous first-class matches and
served as a training hub for the national team. Despite its potential and the
acclaim it has received—such as Wasim Akram's praise of it as the world's most
beautiful stadium—its upkeep and development have been sorely neglected by the
PCB.
In
2001, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government leased the stadium land to the PCB for
45 years at a nominal annual rent of Rs 1500. Since then, the PCB has faltered
in its rent payments, having made only one payment of Rs 116,625 in 2016. The
agreement stipulated rent increases every five years, but this has not been
enforced. Despite hosting 53 first-class and 14 List A matches, the stadium
remains underdeveloped and ignored.
Local
cricket authorities are calling for PCB investment to elevate the stadium to
international standards. Meanwhile, the provincial government has invested
heavily in other projects, such as the Arbab Niaz Stadium and Hayatabad Sports
Complex, and is working on new facilities in Kalam. However, these investments
have not translated into tangible benefits for the region or its players, as
PCB has not reciprocated with financial or developmental contributions.
The
Abbottabad Cricket Stadium is a valuable asset that deserves attention and
investment. To realize its full potential and gain the international
recognition it deserves, the PCB must take decisive action.
#Cricket
#Abbottabad #PCB #SportsDevelopment #KhyberPakhtunkhwa #StadiumRevamp
#LocalCricket #PakistanCricket #InvestmentInSports
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