EYE-CATCHING pictures of a cricket stadium in Gwadar recently made headlines in mainstream and social media. Indeed, it is a beautiful cricket venue. A lot of imagination and effort must have gone in to make such a green spot in an otherwise barren and brown land of Gwadar.

Some people even want it to be recognised as the most beautiful cricket stadium in the world. This is indeed a matter of great pride for us. What disturbs me, however, is that the land of Makran, of which Gwadar is a part, has always been known as the home of footballers; not cricketers. Like Lyari, Makran has traditionally been synonymous with football. It would have been prudent and beneficial if a football academy and stadium of international standard was built there to promote the sport of the natives.

If the government and sport-lovers have any priorities, I am confident that soon we would have a matching football stadium coming up in Gwadar.

Haroon S. Pasha

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2021