LAHORE, Jan 1: Work on installation of blue Astro Turf at the world’s largest National Hockey Stadium has been completed here with the venue being ready for staging international matches.

According to a Sports Board Punjab’s (SBP) official statement, director-general SBP Usman Anwar along with the inspection committee comprising Shahzad Qureshi, Imran and Naeemullah Bhatti inspected the turf on Tuesday. The SBP official said that the previous contractor sought to use an obsolete turf which is no more in use anywhere in the world.

“The previous company also tried to use worn out shock-pads and when action was taken, the company tried to use home-made shock-pads, which would have broken after applying little pressure and also damaged players’ muscles,” alleged Usman.

The official statement further claimed that an amount of Rs1 million has been saved from the original cost of Rs3.5 million, adding that the blue turf is ready for use but an inauguration match wouldn’t be held until the FIH gives its final approval.

It is pertinent to mention that the national hockey team wanted to have the blue turf since long but it became the need of the hour in the lead-up to 2012 London Games with the sports gala using the blue turf for the first time.

Though government of Punjab released funds well on time aiming to complete the work before home series against China in December 2010, disputes with contractors deprived the national team of practising on the blue turf.