Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium named after Imran Khan

PESHAWAR: Amid opposition from political parties and people from different walks of life, the nameplate of Imran Khan Cricket Stadium was placed at the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium.

As the renovation work has been going on for years, the workers were seen installing a huge signboard of the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, which was previously called Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium.

There were reports that apart from others, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan had opposed the decision of the KP government regarding changing the name of the stadium that was constructed in 1984 and was named after a former federal sports minister from Peshawar, Arbab Niaz Muhammad.

The family of the late Arbab Niaz was among a large number of people who opposed the renaming of the cricket stadium. However, the nameplate was prepared and installed at the sports facility despite the opposition.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor had also opposed changing the name of Arbab Niaz Stadium and termed it inappropriate to name it after former prime minister Imran Khan.

The ground is the only international cricket facility in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that, too, has not hosted any international match in the last 19 years due to the security situation.

The stadium is not likely to host a Pakistan Super League match even this year despite construction and renovation was expedited in the last many months.

The last international match played on the ground was between Pakistan and India on February 6, 2006. The hosts won the match by 7 runs through DL method. Recently representatives of the International Cricket Council visited Arbab Niaz Stadium to inspect arrangements for international players as well as the security measures for the upcoming season of PSL.