KARACHI, June 15: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced refurbishment of National Stadium Karachi (NSK) at a cost of Rs. 500 million. The work on the proposed project will commence in August and would be completed some time in 2008, Abbas Zaidi, Director Operations, PCB, said. Unveiling details at a press conference at the National Stadium the PCB official said tenders have already been floated for the ambitious programme which upon completion, would raise the seating capacity up to 50,000 besides easing the VIP pressure.

Highlighting salient features, he said the PCB want to make National Stadium ‘sports friendly’ by creating a number of facilities including food shops, commercial shops, restaurants, toilets, car parking etc.

In addition, he said, another 40 million rupees would be spent on creating residential apartments on the PCB land for the employees working at the stadium.

When his attention was drawn as to why Hyderabad is not given status of second Test centre in Sindh he replied, “There are certain requirements of the ICC which have to be fulfilled. The PCB can upgrade stadium but can not build hotels,” said the PCB official.

PCB on Wednesday also announced to institute “Cricketer of the Year” award with effect from the ongoing year.

A committee having in its fold ex-Test cricketers, media representatives and other officials will determine the “Cricketer of The Year” who will get handsome cash award.

He said performance of cricketers in Tests, ODI’s and domestic cricket will form criteria for selection.

PCB would also institute “cricket scholarships” for under privileged school students at the national level who had the talent to become good cricketers but can not continue their education.

He disclosed that the PCB will also invite fast bowlers from across the country that have the speed to bowl to a three-day talent hunt camp in the near future.

The trainees will be short-listed and get the grooming under experts, he said.

Our Islambad Reporter adds: After a long struggle, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally succeeded in having the cricket control of stadia in Multan, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi.

As far as the Multan Stadium is concerned, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed and the centre taken over, Shaharyar M. Khan, chairman of the

Board told journalists on Wednesday.

He disclosed that within a week the same would happen of the stadiums in Rawalpindi and Faisalabad.

“We had been trying to have control of these stadiums for a long time, not for any financial gains but because first class cricket is played at these centres.”

He stressed that if these centres were not looked after well it creates problems for the PCB. “At the Rawalpindi Stadium for example, there are no proper changing rooms which is quite embarrassing for us.”

“We had been trying for at least two years to have control of these stadiums but for some reasons we could not do so.”

The PCB plans to upgrade the centres by installing lights where there aren’t any, put up giant electronic replay screens and add other new features in a bid to make the stadiums spectator- friendly.

APP adds: The draft constitution of PCB has been submitted in the office of its Patron-in- Chief while stakeholders like Senate Standing Committee on Sports may be consulted before formal approval.

“I have submitted the draft constitution in the office of PCB Patron-in-Chief who is the President of Pakistan”, said PCB Chairman Shaharyar M. Khan on Wednesday.

“I briefed the Senate Committee on the draft constitution in general but couldn’t give away the text because in my view the draft should first go to Patron-in-Chief under the protocol”, he said.

“I am confident that the Patron-in-Chief would send the draft to stake-holders like Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Law, Senate Standing Committee etc. for incorporating their suggestions”, he said.