October 31, 2001	Wednesday	Shaba’an 13, 1422

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HYDERABAD, Oct 30: The fate of Niaz Stadium hangs in balance as no decision has yet been taken whether the ground is to be handed over to the Pakistan Cricket Board or not for upgradation.

The PCB is currently developing a ground, located in Municipal Zoo, as a part of its Infrastructure Development Programme.

The project was to be completed by August this year but it has not been done. The ground was being prepared for domestic circuit. When the PCB chairman visited Hyderabad in July last year, he had expressed his willingness to develop and upgrade the Stadium.

The idea for upgrading the Stadium seemed to have been dropped.

The option of handing over possession of Stadium to PCB on lease could be worked out.

A proposal for constructing a new cricket stadium of international standard was also considered instead of developing or upgrading Niaz Stadium after the chairman’s visit keeping in view the fact that a huge amount would be incurred on the development of Niaz Stadium alone.

The PCB had estimated Rs20million as over all expenditure to renovate and upgrade the Stadium.

But the PCB opted for the development of ground in Municipal Zoo and the defunct Hyderabad Municipal Corporation with signature of its outgoing Administrator Shams Jafrani handed over possession of ground in Zoo to PCB for development.

A former senior official of HMC claimed that when PCB sought complete transfer of the ground at that time, the HMC was not ready to transfer complete control and hand over possession of Stadium to PCB because it would cease its right of ownership of the Stadium in that case.

On Tuesday Anwar Khan, a former Test cricketer representing Cricket Management Committee chairman Iqbal Qasim, visited the Niaz Stadium following reports of its poor condition.

Now the grass is being mowed.

A tractor of the ground has been brought back. He has expressed the hope that the Patron’s Trophy match of Nov 2 to be played between KRL and Customs would be held as per schedule.