Controversy erupts over renaming of Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: A controversy has erupted over the renaming of Peshawar’s historic Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium.

In a significant move, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has approved renaming the stadium, located in Shahi Bagh, as the “Imran Khan Cricket Stadium.” The KP cabinet will approve the decision today (Friday). Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that PSL matches will not be played in Peshawar as franchises have refused to play in the city. Arbab Niaz’s son, Arbab Shehzad, former Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and former adviser to Imran Khan, has rejected the decision to rename the stadium. He stated that in recognition of his father’s services, the Peshawar Municipal Committee had named the stadium through a resolution passed after his father’s death. He questioned whether the provincial government had sought permission from Imran Khan, as Imran has always been strongly opposed to naming roads or buildings after living people. Arbab Shehzad added that following Imran Khan’s instructions, the provincial cabinet had approved the decision in 2013, with him present, ensuring that no building or road would be named after any living person. He emphasized that the stadium’s name should not be changed. The KP government has invested heavily in the development of the stadium. An ambitious project titled “Feasibility and Improvement of Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium, Peshawar” was initially approved in 2018 with a budget of Rs1,377.87 million. The project underwent two major revisions, with costs escalating to Rs1,946.15 million in 2021 and further increasing to Rs2,316.54 million as of September 2024. Arbab Niaz Muhammad Khan belonged to the ever-influential political Arbab family of Peshawar’s Tehkal area. He served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Pakistan Army. Arbab Niaz later served as the Federal Minister for Sports, Culture, and Tourism in General Ziaul Haq’s cabinet. He was also the Mayor of Peshawar.