January 09, 2008	Wednesday	Zilhaj 29, 1428

HYDERABAD, Jan 8: Agha Zahid, chief curator of the PCB, hopes that the Niaz Stadium outfield will be ready before the Pakistan-Zimbabwe One-day International on Jan 24, saying Tuesday’s rain proved to be beneficial for the ground.

The PCB’s preparations for the match are underway and the hotel management concerned is also ready to host the two teams.

Agha visited the stadium on Tuesday while it was raining. Regional Development Management (RDM) Abdul Hussain Shah accompanied him.

Currently, work on the water supply line is going on for watering of the track and the outfield. Repair of general enclosures has been completed and they now require finishing touches. Work on the scoreboard is also in progress and is expected to be completed before the ODI.

Troops, called in the city by the local administration following disturbances after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, are, however, staying at the stadium. But the administration is likely to shift them to some alternative place.

The curator told Dawn that Tuesday’s rain will certainly be beneficial for the stadium as rainwater carries natural nutrition for grass.

“The outfield condition is much better than expected and work is still going on. I hope for more improvement in the coming days,” Agha said.

The RDM has obtained the services of Noor Mohammad Miano, a professor from Sindh Agriculture University, who, after inspecting the outfield, praised the PCB officials for their work on the grass.

Miano advised Agha to use phosphorous and urea for the grass that will yield better results swiftly, adding that patches that had been badly hit by salinity due to the risen level of sub-soil water, would also be covered with grass.

Meanwhile, hotel management has also expressed its readiness to host the two teams.