Sunday, December 20, 2009

CDGK to inaugurate cricket, hockey stadiums in a week

The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) is all set to inaugurate two cricket stadiums and one Astroturf hockey stadium within a week, The News has learnt.

Moreover, the construction of a cricket stadium in New Karachi Town and a stadium in Baldia Town has been completed; a hockey stadium in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town has also been renovated and upgraded.

Sources in the city government said that all necessary arrangements have already been made at these three stadiums and they are ready for inauguration. These stadiums have been constructed and developed according to the best possible standards for international matches. The fields of these cricket stadiums are larger than the field of the National Stadium.

Sources told The News that both cricket stadiums — in New Karachi and Baldia Town — have the capacity to accommodate 10,000 people each, while the hockey stadium can house 5,000 people. The capacity of all these stadiums will be enhanced in the future.

State-of-the-art Astroturf has been laid at the hockey stadium in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, which is named after Olympian Ifikhar Syed, sources said, adding that known international consultants gave their input in laying the astroturf. Floodlights have already been installed at these stadiums, they said. Moreover, the pitches have been made with mud from Nandipur, Multan. “The city government especially ensured that the pitches and fields are good enough for international matches,” they said. “Special attention was paid to develop proper pitches in these stadiums.”

Sources said that former Pakistan Cricket Team captain Rashid Lateef played an important role in the development of these stadiums. Some more stadiums are also being built by the CDGK; they will be inaugurated soon.

The city government wants to maintain these stadiums using public-private partnership, sources said, adding that due to limited resources, it is not possible for the city government to maintain these stadiums on its own. Renowned personalities of the areas concerned will be asked to come forward and make their contribution in this context.

Committees in every town have been notified to supervise activities at stadiums in their respective areas, sources said. International players will oversee these committees, and monitor the selection of players in their towns, sources said.

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