The continuous delay in renovation work at National Stadium in Karachi is giving rise to doubts about the future matches scheduled to take place at the venue and esoecially the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final.

It must be noted the final of season four of PSL is bound to take place at the same venue on March 17, 2019. With around two months left, the completion of work at the stadium is becoming an increasingly difficult task.

In an exclusive report by Cricket Pakistan, we took a close look at the nature of the work and the reasons behind its delay. 

Nearly two years have passed since the work was first started at the stadium.  

The main area of concern is the placement of fabric over the roof of the stadium — something which is yet to start. The fabric has arrived from Malaysia but the experts and technicians — who will monitor its fixing — have not arrived yet although they have applied for their visas. It is expected that they will arrive in Pakistan in a week or so — from Malaysia and various different countries.  

Project Engineer Mumtaz Hussain was optimistic that the work at the venue will be completed with time to spare.

“We are confident that the work will be completed before the PSL final,” said Mumtaz. “Majority of the work at the stadium is complete apart from a few areas and we are working day and night to finish the remaining work.”

Hussain also spoke about the durability of roof’s fabric — tensile material — which he hopes will last for a long period of time.

“The fabric will last for around 25 years and can sustain, both, heavy rain and high temperatures,” he said. “After installation, quarterly cleaning of the fabric will also take place.”   

The stadium hosted its first international match since the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in April 2018, when West Indies came to the country for a three-match T20I series. The venue also hosted the final of PSL season three earlier in the same year.