Pindi Stadium’s long wait for int’l cricket is over

ISLAMABAD: The long wait is over as Pindi Cricket Stadium is ready for the return of international cricket following 13 years of drought. During this period only domestic events and that too in patches were hosted by the venue.

Sri Lanka cricket team, that is due in a few days’ time, will be playing their first-ever Test match in Pakistan since the team bus was attacked in Lahore in 2009.

The Test that starts at the Pindi Stadium from December 11 will also be the first ever to be held in the country after that unfortunate incident that closed the doors of international cricket in Pakistan. Though Zimbabwe, Kenya and Sri Lanka teams have visited Pakistan in recent years to play limited over cricket the Test cricket returns to the country for the very first time in 10 years.

The last time Pindi Stadium hosted an international match was in 2006 when one-day international against West Indies had to be abandoned due to rough weather. Months earlier to that wash out, India played one-dayer at the venue. It was in 2004 that Pakistan played its last Test at the Pindi Stadium against India and then this long arduous wait. For the Potohar region, the wait for the international cricket is almost over now as Sri Lanka is set to reach here for the first of the two-match series starting with the opening Test starting from December 11.

“We have been waiting for long for the restart of the international cricket in the country especially in Pindi Stadium which is accessible not only to the Rawalpindi and Islamabad fans but also to the KP and Central Punjab fans. The city provides the best setting to the fans around,” Faisal Suleman, a local club cricketer said.

He said he was not alone waiting for the return of Test cricket. “Hundreds of other local club players have also been waiting for the restart of the international cricket. “Besides Test we are also waiting for the start of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches. We are happy that Pindi Stadium has been picked as a venue for the PSL 2020.” Following renovation, Pindi Stadium gives fabulous look, especially with the addition of far-end Media Enclosure that has been recently raised. Almost three years back, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Governing Board had approved Rs two billion for the up-gradation of Pindi and Multan Stadium.

Almost Rs 200 was spent on the newly constructed Media Building that besides hosting print and electronic media persons would cater the needs of official commentary units and all accredited persons associated with the international matches or coming PSL matches. Up gradation of the players pavilion building has also been done. The outlook of the pavilion building hardly gives any real change except that stairs that takes players down and up to the dressing rooms are being properly covered.