Peshawar: Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium in Peshawar has been officially nominated at the Cricket Stadium, in which the new name plate is now visible despite opposition from various political groups and individuals.
The decision to rename the stadium, which has been in renewal for years, has given rise to the dispute. Workers were seen installing a new name for sports facilities, which was actually named after former Federal Sports Minister, Arbab Niaz Mohammad, when it was built in 1984.
In particular, Pakistan Tehreek -e -Insaf’s founder Imran Khan allegedly opposed the change of name, as was also done by the late Arbab Niaz’s family. Even the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expressed his disapproval, and after the former prime minister inappropriately demanded a decision to rename the stadium.
Nevertheless, the name plate was installed, which identified the latest development in the ongoing stadium renewal, which is the only international cricket facility in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, due to security concerns, the stadium has not hosted any international matches in almost two decades.
Although efforts are underway to accelerate renovation, it is unlikely that the stadium will host any Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches this year. The last international game played in the venue was the match between Pakistan and India in 2006, which Pakistan won by 7 runs under the D/L method. Recently, representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC) visited the stadium to inspect facilities and security arrangements for future possible events.
