PCB to build a high-tech cricket stadium in Islamabad by 2025

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja attended a press conference on Wednesday in which he addressed all the cricketing problems Pakistan is facing, the governing body's plans for the future, and provided ample solutions to those.

While on the subjects of infrastructure, Ramiz Raja heavily criticised the conditions of the stadiums in Pakistan and that they are not up to the standards of international cricket.

"The seats are not good, the viewing galleries are not good either. There is absolutely nothing that is there which can attract sponsors. There are a lot of things which need to be fixed on a lot of different levels," said Ramiz during the conference.

Ramiz explained how attaining the rights to host ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is a huge win for Pakistan but claimed that PCB has to ensure an international-level experience for the entirety of the tournament.

"We have submitted two applications where we have inquired for a piece of land within Islamabad. We want to create a high-tech cricket stadium from the ground up and hopefully, prepare it by 2025 for the Champions Trophy," Ramiz said.

As Cricket Pakistan previously reported, the PCB amped up its efforts to revamp the cricketing infrastructure in Pakistan under the Ehsan Mani tenure.

The project was being led by Ehsan Mani himself who collaborated with the chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Amir Ali Ahmed.

During Mani's tenure, National High-Performance Academy director Nadeem Khan had said: "The creation of a state-of-the-art international cricket stadium in Islamabad will help the growth of cricket in the country. This stadium will have all the latest state-of-the-art facilities for the sport. Steady progress is being made on the mega project and the Prime Minister will lay the foundation for it. PCB officials are in constant contact with the officials of the CDA. We are also planning on creating high-performance centers in Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Faisalabad."

In regards to additional construction, Ramiz said that 70 additional rooms will be built in NHPC to accommodate teams visiting for the Asia Cup, Champions Trophy, and future cricket.