ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Sindh government will work together to improve Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad to meet international standards.
According to the private media report, this decision was made during a meeting between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah at Naqvi’s office in Islamabad.
They discussed promoting cricket, hosting international matches, and upgrading various stadiums in Sindh.
A PCB team will visit Niaz Stadium next week to assess its facilities and prepare a report for Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the Sindh government will provide funds to support the PCB in upgrading and renovating Niaz Stadium, as instructed by President Asif Ali Zardari.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated that the PCB is working on developing new cricket venues across Pakistan. He said bringing international cricket back to Hyderabad and Faisalabad is a top priority.
Naqvi added that the PCB aims to host an international match at Niaz Stadium this year. The last international ODI match at the stadium took place in 2008. Provincial Minister Jam Khan Shoro and PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed attended the meeting.
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In other news, the Pakistan Cricket Board is expected to announce a new oversight committee to monitor the national selection panel’s decisions and suggest changes to improve domestic cricket.
Reports indicate that the committee will include former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and former Test cricketer Sikander Bakht. The committee will have two main tasks overseeing the selection committee’s decisions and recommending ways to improve Pakistan’s domestic cricket system.
By including experienced former players and cricket administrators, the PCB hopes to address ongoing issues and raise the standard of cricket at both grassroots and professional levels.
This announcement comes during a time of change in Pakistan cricket, with recent updates to the selection panel and a focus on strengthening domestic competitions.
There is uncertainty about the new selection committee’s members, with reports suggesting that Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, and Asad Shafiq may no longer serve. The PCB is also considering appointing a new head coach for the red-ball team, as interim coach Aqib Javed has taken on the role of Director High Performance.
Sources confirm that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will remain in the ODI and Test squads, but a decision has been made about their inclusion in the T20I team.
Meanwhile, white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has started preparing a strong team for the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 ODI World Cup.
