HYDERABAD: The historic Niaz Stadium has once again been handed over to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) under a 20-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the board promising a phased upgrade of the venue and efforts to bring domestic, PSL and eventually international cricket back to the city.
The MoU was signed on Tuesday by Mayor Kashif Ali Shoro on behalf of the HMC and PCB chief operating officer Sumair Ahmed Syed at a ceremony held at the stadium in the presence of officials from the regional and district cricket associations.
Sumair said the PCB would work with the HMC and Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Hyderabad Kingsmen on the revival and development of cricket at the venue.
“PCB will collaborate with Hyderabad Kingsmen and HMC for revival and development of cricket,” he told the gathering, adding that the stadium’s capacity would be increased and floodlights installed.
“All ICC-related international standards will be introduced here so that healthy competition is seen here,” he said.
He urged the people of Hyderabad to take ownership of the Kingsmen, who made their debut in the PSL earlier this year after being bought by Fawad Sarwar, a Hyderabad-born businessman who later moved to the United States.
Sumair said the PCB would endeavour to organise at least one match of the 12th edition of the PSL at Niaz Stadium, subject to the condition of the outfield.
He said work on the pitch would begin immediately and expressed hope that a few PSL matches could be staged at the venue in the 13th edition.
The PCB official also announced plans to establish a Regional Cricket Academy (RCA) in Hyderabad in January-February 2027 to promote domestic cricket.
Coaches and a physiotherapist would be available at the academy to train young players selected through trials, he said.
ROADMAP FOR UPGRADE
Responding to journalists’ questions, Sumair said the PCB was currently in the planning phase and would share a presentation with the HMC and the administration within two months outlining its roadmap for upgrading the stadium.
“I can’t commit to holding an ODI in the next two months but a roadmap will be shared,” he said.
He said the absence of a five-star hotel was a drawback for Hyderabad but added that he had been informed by Sindh Minister Jam Khan Shoro that hotels were being developed in the city.
“If the hotel meets minimum standards for players, like a gym and swimming pools, then it could be considered for accommodation,” he said.
Sumair said the PCB was looking beyond the immediate prospect of hosting PSL matches.
“I am talking of holding international cricket matches. We are talking about organising Pakistan Super League and departmental matches here,” he told Dawn.
He also clarified that the name of Niaz Stadium would not be changed.
The stadium would remain the property of the HMC, while the PCB would undertake its improvement and share gate receipts with the corporation, he said.
The PCB would also not allow ceremonies and other non-cricketing activities at the venue in order to protect the ground.
“We will not be able to allow ceremonies in the stadium in the larger interest of ground’s upkeep,” Sumair said.
He said the PCB was committed to improving the venue and would take local leadership on board during the process.
“Once stadium meets minimum ICC standards so that domestic and PSL matches are held and then we can aim for bilateral international series. It is a journey which is time consuming,” he said.
Sumair said the regular staging of cricket would also encourage private-sector investment in facilities at the venue.
“Once we get a venue, private sector will be interested in developing facilities considering their business interests and will start investing,” he said.
He, however, pointed out that continuous cricket could affect the outfield, making it bumpy, while pitches needed time to go through a natural cycle between matches.
The PCB would address the issue as part of the stadium’s development, he said.
“The moment we know the ground is meeting requirements for domestic matches then matches will certainly be organised because it is the second largest city where universities and hostels exist for accommodation,” he said.
Sumair said the entire stadium would be upgraded and the local leadership would be consulted in the process.
He also said teams could potentially fly in and out for matches if accommodation arrangements met the required standards.
“I am told that a hotel is available on the outskirts of the city and even then there is a problem then teams [of PSL] can fly in and fly out for matches considering passion among people for cricket here,” he said.
PCB Director Domestic Cricket Osama Sharon told Dawn that the ground would be developed to host trophy-level matches.
He said the existing cricketing conditions at the venue were not satisfactory and that the pitch square also needed to be developed.
Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2026
