Cricket grounds to be equipped with all facilities: Lashari

ISLAMABAD—Chairman Capital Development Authority Kamran Lashari announced Monday that almost all the existing and those cricket grounds being developed will be provided with pavilion, turf, pitches and other necessary facilities.
Lashari made this announcement on the request of President Islamabad Cricket Association Shakil Shaikh. Lashari visited first-class Diamond Cricket Ground, currently under construction in G-8/2, as an alternate to existing Diamond ground, and expressed his satisfaction over the construction work.
CDA’s Member (Engineering) Engineer Moinuddin Kakakhel, DG (Env) Mazhar Hussain, Director Special Projects Sanaullah Aman, Dy. Dir (Special Projects) Sohail Ursani, Assistant Director (Special Projects) M Javed, President Islamabad Region Cricket Association Shakil Shaikh and President Rawalpindi Region Cricket Association Syd Naeem Akhtar Gilani were present in the meeting which discussed and evolved strategy for building cricket grounds in various localities of the city for catering to the need of capital’s youth.
CDA Chief Kamran Lashari has already earmarked a handsome amount for development, uplifting and upgradation of cricket grounds and providing alternate sites for those grounds being affected due to road expansion programme.
Similar plans are also to be executed for other sports disciplines like hockey, football etc, besides construction of four community complexes.
The CDA is also building a first-class ground at Saidpur as alternate to Marghzar cricket ground, and at F-7 as alternate to Lal Quarters cricket ground, besides developing a new ground at G-9 Markaz, F-11/1, G-11, and several other places.
Lashari assured the ICA that the CDA would be willing to provide good quality grounds and would not hesitate in allocation of funds so that the capital’s youth is involved in healthy activities.
The CDA Chairman said a new pavilion will soon be constructed at CRA ground, located at G-7 Markaz, and Director Special Projects Sanaullah Aman has been assigned the task to complete designs and related work.
He also directed Sanaullah to make advance planning for shifting of XI-Star, Punjab and Capital Gymkhana Cricket Grounds, if they come in the blue area or right of way so that there should be no problem in shifting these grounds before allotting this land for commercial purposes.
“We are highly thankful to Mr. Lashari, Engineer Moinuddin, DG Mazhar Hussain and DSP Sanaullah Aman for extending all out help to develop, uplift and upgrade cricket infrastructure in the Islamabad” said President ICA Shakil Shaikh.
CDA Member (Eng) Engineer Moinuddin said that the sports community in the capital would be facilitated in a way that Islamabad would also be the top sporting city at the national level. The new Diamond Cricket Ground, said Sanaullah Aman, would be equipped with all the necessary facilities to host international matches.—APP