Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has renamed Peshawar’s Cricket stadium after Imran Khan in honor of his services for cricket in Pakistan.
Currently, the Arbab Niaz Stadium is the only stadium in the entire province. Chief Minister Imran Khan signed the summary by the sports department, proposing the renaming of the Arbab Niaz Stadium. The matter will now be placed before the provincial cabinet for its approval.
Sports minister Syed Fakhar Jahan told local media that the renaming of the stadium was beyond politics as Imran Khan was the biggest name in the country’s sporting history. He said that the government should have named Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium after Imran Khan, however, they only named an enclosure after him.
The statement added that the stadium was constructed by the Municipal Corporation Peshawar through the Peshawar Development Authority. “Initially, the stadium had a seating capacity of 5,000 spectators and a small pavilion for local cricket matches,” it said.
According to the summary, the stadium has hosted test matches, one-day internationals, first-class cricket, and inter-club competitions. Since its up-gradation, it has hosted from all major cricketing nations including Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, and Zimbabwe.
“To honor Mr Imran Khan’s remarkable contributions to Pakistan’s cricketing legacy and his pivotal role in shaping the nation’s sports landscape, it is proposed that the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium be renamed as Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Shahi Bagh Peshawar,” it said.
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The summary added that the stadium’s renaming reflects the commitment of the government to honor national heroes, inspiring future generations, and promoting a culture of acknowledging excellence in sports.
The news has stirred a new controversy as the KP government is receiving flak for not completing the renovation and development of the stadium within the given time. Critics also ask why the government has not built any other sports facility in Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during their ten-year rule.