NAROWAL: The construction of the Cricket High Performance Centre in Sialkot Jinnah Stadium has come to a halt, leaving modern gymnasium equipment to rust due to lack of use.

The project, initiated by the Punjab caretaker government in November 2023, aimed to establish a Provincial Cricket High Performance Centre in both Sialkot and Faisalabad districts. The project was divided into two phases, with an initial allocation of Rs920 million for the first phase.

The first phase included the construction of six practice wickets, a swimming pool, a gymnasium hall and an administrative block. However, after construction began, the project cost escalated to Rs1.013 billion. The centre was designed to accommodate up to 400 players practising simultaneously on indoor cricket wickets and additional facilities, such as the swimming pool and gymnasium were also included. Unfortunately, these facilities have since fallen into disrepair due to inactivity. Gymnasium equipment purchased two years ago is now damaged and rusting.

During the redesign of Jinnah Cricket Stadium, parts of existing buildings were demolished to make way for the new centre. Phase two of the project, with an estimated cost exceeding Rs2bn, was to include further construction and renovation of the stadium, along with upgrades, a library, conference rooms, and residential apartments for staff.

Local journalist Junaid Aftab, who covers sport, says that construction on the project was halted following the 2024 general election, leaving the stadium unusable for local players. He said that Sialkot, renowned globally for its sports equipment, now lacks adequate facilities for its own athletes.

Local sportsmen Rashid Mahmood and Khalil Ahmed criticised the Punjab government’s policies, stating that they have deprived Sialkot’s young athletes of necessary playing fields. Sialkot District Sports Officer Muhammad Iftikhar said that construction ceased six months ago and that the project has since been handed over to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The PCB will now decide whether to complete or abandon the project.

Citizens have protested against the demolition of Jinnah Cricket Stadium and the abandonment of the High Performance Centre project.

They called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to allocate necessary funds to complete the work.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2024