KARACHI, July 7: The latest windstorm accompanied by rain which caused mayhem in the city has created a precarious situation at the famous, five decades old Arambagh floodlit basketball court since as many as five electric poles around it have given way during this period.

Luckily, no casualties have been reported although a free coaching camp is in progress these days and budding youngsters can be seen dribbling and shooting until midnight.

While two poles had fallen during the preceding thunderstorm and were lying unattended, now three more have kissed the ground. The remaining one pole was also partially damaged but the organisers tied it with a rope in an effort to keep the ball rolling.

Meanwhile, a survey by Dawn reveals that the court and its surroundings need an immediate facelift. Established in 1957 by the stalwarts of the Karachi Basketball Club (KBBC), many of whom later donned Pakistan colour, the premises has played a leading role in promoting the game besides unearthing talented cagers.

Foreign teams including China, Egypt and the US Springfield Club have played friendly games at this court.

Besides, the game also continued to thrive at the YMCA, United Basketball Court Nazimabad and the Nishtar Park. Mohammad Khan, a former international of yore, spent his life by keeping the game alive at the century-old institution. Unfortunately, with his passing away the YMCA basketball was buried with him.

The Arambagh basketball court comes under Saddar Town. Its nazim Mohammad Dilawar, who inaugurated the recent camp prior to latest demolition of electric poles, has held out an assurance to organisers pertaining to renovation.

The Saddar Town has already set aside a hefty amount of money for upgrading parks and playgrounds in the budget for 2007-08 announced recently.

“The electric poles should be erected on priority basis followed by carpeting and painting of the cemented floor, renovating of grills around the court and its surroundings,” secretary Karachi City District Amateur Basketball Association (KCDABA) Abdul Nasir told Dawn.

The former international said he has also put forward a proposal to the concerned area nazim for creating facility of a toilet-cum-changing room and an office in the premises.—AZ