PCB takes over Niaz Stadium for 20 years
The Pakistan Cricket Board has taken over Niaz Stadium for 20 years and will upgrade the venue to international standards.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has taken over the administrative management of Hyderabad's Niaz Stadium for 20 years. Chief Operating Officer Sumair Syed said the board will upgrade the venue and restore it as a major cricketing centre.
The PCB plans to install floodlights and introduce all facilities required to meet international standards. Work on the ground and pitch will begin immediately, with the board aiming to stage at least one PSL match at the stadium during PSL 12 and several games in PSL 13.
The board will pay the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Rs10,000 monthly rent and 20 percent of gate revenue. Ownership remains with the civic body, while the PCB holds commercial and broadcasting rights. A regional cricket academy will be established in Hyderabad from January or February.
CricHubb Take
The PCB's long-term control of Niaz Stadium shows the board is addressing infrastructure gaps in smaller cities rather than concentrating resources in Lahore and Karachi. The 20-year agreement creates a new domestic cricket hub that could reduce pressure on existing venues.