CDA set to break ground for cricket stadium in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: Construction work on a cricket stadium in the capital city is expected to start soon, as a PCB official indicates that Pakistan will likely host a few matches of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2028 here in Islamabad.
The groundbreaking of the project is likely to take place soon as the CDA is constructing an unpaved approach road for the event.
An official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that Pakistan will host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2028 and if Islamabad Cricket Stadium is completed by that time, some matches will be held there.
“With 35,000 seating capacity, this stadium will be Pakistan’s largest cricket stadium. This will be a replica of Dubai Cricket Stadium,” the official said.
Meanwhile, sources in the CDA said that groundbreaking of the stadium project near Sector D-12 at the foothills of Margalla Hills is expected in the next few days.
“We are constructing an approach road from Margalla Road near D-12 to the cricket stadium site,” said an officer of the CDA.
Officials said once Phase-I of the stadium is started, it will likely be completed within one year. As per PC-I, the estimated cost of the project was Rs11.9 billion.
However, the CDA received a bid worth Rs8.9 billion from a joint venture of Habib-ZKB-EA, of which Rs5.8 billion is for a three-tier stadium structure and Rs3.1 billion is for external works including three kilometres of three-plus-three-lane roads, alongside its associated structures.
It is relevant to note here that the site selected for the stadium falls in Zone III, where construction activity is completely banned and local landlords are not allowed to construct houses on their own land. However, CDA says that sports and recreational activities are permissible in this area, and a cricket stadium, according to CDA, is a permissible construction activity.
In the past, after receiving land from the CDA, the PCB started construction of a stadium in Shakarparian, but the Supreme Court later directed that project to be abandoned. However, this time round, CDA is solely going to construct a cricket stadium.
Besides the D-12 site, another site near Malpur in Zone I remained under discussion with the CDA; however, the civic body seems to be sticking to its plan to build a stadium near D-12.
“Our bidding process is already completed, the site is selected, and we are ready to organise the groundbreaking event. We are waiting for a green signal from the interior minister,” said an official of the CDA. He added that CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf and Member Environment Abdullah Khurram Niazi have been focusing on cricket stadium projects, and they have completed almost all pre-start activities.