Niaz Stadium formally handed over to PCB

HYDERABAD, Oct 06 (APP): The Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday signed an agreement to hand over the historic Niaz Stadium Hyderabad to the PCB for promotion of cricket and holding national and international matches.

A ceremony to sign the agreement was held at Niaz Stadium, where Mayor Hyderabad Kashif Ali Shoro signed the document on behalf of the HMC, while PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sumair Ahmed Syed signed it on behalf of the PCB.

Commissioner Hyderabad Fayyaz Hussain Abbasi, Director Domestic Cricket Operations PCB Osama, Municipal Commissioner Zahoor Ahmed Lakhan, PPP Divisional President Aajiz Dhamrah, MNA and PPP District President Syed Tariq Shah Jamot, Sagheer Ahmed Qureshi and other officials were present on the occasion.

Deputy Commissioner Zain-ul-Abideen Memon, Director General HAD Afshan Rubab Syed, SSP Shahzaib Chachar, CEO HWSC Tufail Ahmed Abro, trader’s representatives Nadeem Ahmed Siddiqui and Adeel Ahmed, former chairman ABAD Kashif Shaikh, officials of relevant departments, citizens and cricket lovers also attended the ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, Mayor Kashif Shoro said holding national and international matches at the historic Niaz Stadium had long been a demand of the people and cricket fans of Hyderabad.

He said the stadium had been renovated with funds of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to make it suitable for sports activities, adding that it had now been formally handed over to the PCB.

The mayor said the agreement would also provide sporting opportunities to young people from Jamshoro, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar and other districts, while national, international and Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches could also be held at the stadium.

PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed said mayor Kashif Shoro had made efforts to make the agreement possible, while Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had also played an important role in the process.

He expressed the hope that first-class cricket and international matches would soon be held in Hyderabad.

He said the PCB would also try to hold some matches of the PSL at Niaz Stadium.

Sumair Ahmed said a media gallery would be established at the stadium and its seating capacity would be increased from 12,000 to 20,000 spectators.

Commissioner Hyderabad Fayyaz Hussain Abbasi and PPP Divisional President Aajiz Dhamrah also addressed the ceremony.