ISLAMABAD, July 2: A ground that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had promised to develop is beckoning the powers that be. The Diamond Cricket Ground, in the heart of Islamabad, was an approved project of the PCB but six months past the deadline, some areas remain unattended.

Lt. Gen (Retd) Tauqir Zia, the former head of the PCB had given the go-ahead for developing this ground at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 million. While the pavilion has been built, the fencing around the ground put up and the levelling having been completed, all of a sudden the Board officials have begun to look the other way.

The promise of laying the pitches and provision of ground equipment is not being honoured by the PCB. Reminders, both written and verbal, have not worked. As a result, the club managers have started to make pitches, four in all, from their own resources which is going to cost them Rs 0.25 million.

The equipment, including rollers, grass cutting machines, sight screens and scoreboard have yet to arrive at the ground which was originally to be completed in September last year. That deadline was then extended to Dec 30 2003.

The ground once complete will become one of the finest first class venues in Islamabad. It is one of 90 grounds across Pakistan that were approved by the PCB for development.