October 7, 2002	Monday	Rajab 29, 1423

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LAHORE, Oct 6: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to develop two new stadia and upgrade Niaz Stadium in addition to Rani Bagh cricket ground which is near completion in Hyderabad.

The decision was taken by the PCB chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia at the cricket headquarters Saturday evening.

The meeting that was also attended by director Chishty Mujahid and general manager development Irfan Mirza, also took other important decisions regarding development that would increase playing facilities in the country.

As regards development in Hyderabad, the PCB chairman assigned Irfan Mirza to find suitable land and launch the projects without any delay. Mirza will be visiting Hyderabad next week to meet the City Nazim and other district cricket officials in this context.

The PCB chief also expressed his intention to take over the Niaz Stadium provided that PCB had complete control over the stadium.

Once the Niaz Stadium is handed over to the PCB, plans to bring it at par with other centres like National Stadium and Gaddafi Stadium would be launched.

The chairman also approved to uplift the Minto Park grounds, in Lahore and upgradation plan of Pindi Club Ground, Rawalpindi.

Besides these, the PCB chairman also agreed in principle to start fresh development or upgradation work on 23 more grounds.

However, Tauqir Zia made it clear that PCB would only invest on these grounds if the local authorities would provide the basic civic requirements like water and electricity at the venues.

In this connection, the PCB would sign a Memorandum    of   Understanding   with   the local association / institutions / districts in which one of the clauses would be that the facility would be available to the local clubs and cricketers.