AS the Pakistan Cricket Board gears up to hold the third edition of the Pakistan Super League T20 cricket competition early next year, how ideally it will be to rename the main cricket venues in Karachi and Lahore after our sporting idols to mark the occasion.

This time the PCB plans to hold at least 10 matches, out of 34, in Pakistan, including six in Lahore and four in Karachi with the southern port city expected to host the all-important final.

Last year, legendary opening batsman and Test captain Hanif Mohammad left this world. At his peak, the Karachi-based ‘Little Master’ was considered one of the best batsmen in the world despite playing at a time when Pakistan played little Test cricket. It is not surprising that in a 17-year career, he appeared in only 55 Tests.

The other notable cricketer to leave his mark was none other than Abdul Hafeez Kardar. The Lahore-born and Oxford-educated player had the distinction of playing Test cricket for both India and Pakistan. He became Pakistan’s first captain and is widely regarded as a father figure of our cricket.

Given the great services rendered by these two late illustrious cricketers it will not be out of place to suggest that the National Stadium, Karachi, and Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, be renamed after them respectively.

Fawad Hashmey

Lahore

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2017