Sindh

Design of Pakistan’s largest cricket stadium finalised

The sports academy will have two full size outdoor cricket fields and 12,000 square metres

Our Correspondent April 25, 2016

An artistic rendition of the Rafi Cricket Stadium. PHOTO: PR

KARACHI:

The architecture design of Bahria Sports City’s Rafi Cricket Stadium has been completed, according to a press release issued by Bahria Town. Construction on what will be Pakistan’s largest cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 50,000 will begin soon.

Bahria announced the project two months back and signed a contract with GMP Germany for structural design. The three-level stadium has been designed in accordance with ICC standards. The complex will consist of a cricket academy of international standard, gymnasium, swimming pool and hostels.

Bahria Sports City to feature Pakistan’s largest cricket stadium

Famous international players will be hired at the cricket academy who will promote local as well as international cricket. The sports academy will have two full size outdoor cricket fields and 12,000 square metres indoor sports and recreational facilities. Spacious area of land has been allocated which will be sufficient to park more than 10,000 cars.

Bahria CEO Ali Riaz Malik said the construction of the largest cricket stadium was an honour for his organisation.

Bahria Town has awarded contract of the stadium to famous German firm, GMP Architects, which has also built an international cricket stadium at Dubai Sports City. In this regard, the Bahria Town’s Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Ali Riaz Malik and GMP Architects’ Markus Pfisterer signed a deal in Dubai in February.

Cricket stadium: German firm lands Bahria’s contract

Speaking on the occasion, Ali Riaz said Bahria Town had the distinction of introducing the most modern facilities in Pakistan. “It is an honour to build Pakistan’s largest cricket stadium in Karachi. The project will help in encouraging sports as well as tourism in the country,” he said.

He said the real estate group will keep introducing such projects, which are greatly appreciated by the general public. “Such projects will, insha Allah, prove to be the best projects of the country,” he added.

(TRANSLATION BY ARSHAD SHAHEEN)

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2016.

COMMENTS (41)

Shah | 8 years ago | Reply @Anuj: It Is Natural That You And Your Fellow Countrymen Have Become So Used to Exposing Your Rear Ends In Front of Everyone That You Do Not Feel Any Embarrassment In It Anymore

Reader | 8 years ago | Reply @ali: I think your's is the only comment one can agree with. Pakistan needs education, education and education. We already have The National Stadium which is not used, so why build a new one. Even if Pakistan were to spend its entire G.D.P. on education it still would not be enough, that is how very back we are.

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Anuj | 8 years ago | Reply @Shah Nothing is more embarrasing than playing home matches out of home.

Shah | 8 years ago | Reply @Rahul: Oh Sure How Unlike Corporate India BTW If Started Talking About What I Read In The News About India You Would Lose Your Sleep @shameful: That Is The Job Of The Government,Malik Riaz Is A Private Developer and Besides He Already Does More Than His Fare Share of Social Work @Anuj: Yes You Have A Government and Stadiums So Sad You Don't Have Decent Facility Where People Can Commune With Nature Without Making An Embarrassing Spectacle Out Of Themselves

Emjay | 8 years ago | Reply Correction - it's not our money, it is Malik Riaz's money. He can do whatever he wants with it. Schools, colleges and unis are govt's job, not his.

Rationalist | 8 years ago | Reply This design is from the 50's....how unfuturistic is that

Anuj | 8 years ago | Reply @HASSAN We may not have a Bahri in our country but what we do have is a government who is not just for the namesake like yours. Plus we have stadiums that serves the purpose when international events take place because foreign teams visit us and return back safely. But you won't understand because nobody visits there except Zimbabwe and Kenyans for few extra dollars that too once in a decade.

freed | 8 years ago | Reply Commision funnel from this project will used in another offshore account. Ofcourse when it rains slightly, sewage will over flow in streets of the city around this stadium as usual.

shameful | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan needs schools, colleges, and universities. Karachi has the National Stadium which is lying under utilized on Stadium Road. Our priorities are very very wrong, when we have limited money why do we waste on building useless monuments.

Rahul | 8 years ago | Reply @Shah: I read in the news a couple of days ago that Bahria Town is that housing society which steals water and electricity from the poor parts of Karachi and gives it to Bahria. Bravo!!!

Samrat | 8 years ago | Reply @Shah Just like you said, we don't give a damn to what Bahri town is, our question is when no team is going to visit then what purpose does this stadium serves? Oh yeah right! Maybe people will watch the match together on the big screen inside and in this way they won't break their tv sets, is it?

Hassan | 8 years ago | Reply @True what can we say when u have no understanding of our internal dynamics, Bahria is one of the leading Construction companies in Pakistan they made their own flyovers for their projects, go and read about Bahria, they are private company and does not represent the Government, they cannot and will not ask for any loan from any Queen or country, they have constructed a whole new city, Bahira has several projects in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. unfortunately there is nothing like Bahria in India whatever needs to be done has to be done by the Indian government no private company is huge enough to set up an entire city there.

Shah | 8 years ago | Reply @Sunil: Do We Really Give A Damn What You Think @Dipak: @Kolsat: Typical Indian Trolls If You Had Any Idea What Bahria Town Is You Would Not Have Made Such An Idiotic Remark

ali | 8 years ago | Reply so pathetic. wish somebody could invest on education too

Revenge | 8 years ago | Reply @Tyggar I think its a bit reverse my friend. The table is set but no guest to come. This stadium perhaps will be used for hosting Pakistan Cup and screening international matches happening outside the country.

Revenge | 8 years ago | Reply @SAM Next time try to catch at least one culprit. Your forces are neither good at protecting nor at capturing.

Dipak | 8 years ago | Reply Will it ever be built? Application is filed with World Bank and BRICS Bank

Faisal Afzal | 8 years ago | Reply A move to win people after being found involved in so much land grabbing.

FATA | 8 years ago | Reply @Israr: I wish because people are already fleeing from FATA due to the wrong policies of Pak Govt.No one will acknowledge this. But this is the reality. FATA has been used as "Sune ki Chirya" for the sake of Pakistan. We are pro-Pakistani & that is why we want to see Pakistan a prosperous country. Why PSL was not played in Pakistan?

True | 8 years ago | Reply Wow beggers are having feast. Again nawaz begged in front of queen victoria for money so that he can make a stadium.

Ul Logical | 8 years ago | Reply For all readers who may be unaware, this project is in recognition of the major efforts of PCB to extend test status to the big cricket nations of Malvides, Microsenia and Mesopomia who have all agreed to come and play in this magnificent stadium; this will boast of state-of-the art technology with just sixteen hours of loadshedding and a straight access road to cpec and Gwadar, for players to enjoy rest and recreation when some raw entertainment may take place. Great project; good luck.

Shakil Ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply Whats the purpose of this stadium? its not built by PCB so how could it be used for any international matches? it can only be used for home ground for PSL team nothing else!

Tyggar | 8 years ago | Reply All dressed up, but nowhere to go, lol!

Reema | 8 years ago | Reply Why not build a world class hockey and football facility along with this stadium. Why only cricket is being promoted. I have no issues with cricket. Sponsors will only come to other sports if there is good infrastructure.

Hassan | 8 years ago | Reply yeah right!!! The land which were illegally occupied by the people of Goth, this is called advancement, the way they were living there may settle anywhere else. but we have to built such projects.don't cry as if everything will be lost, i don't see logical replies from some people like observer.

sam | 8 years ago | Reply @Sunil: A Typical response from an Indian . Next time don't attack International teams in Pakistan.

Irfan | 8 years ago | Reply @Israr: Did u visit the location before making such a false claim ?

Sonya | 8 years ago | Reply @Desi: The increased amount of media ads are basically for the damage control. ET should not be part of it.

Milind | 8 years ago | Reply Sigh!!! When will this obsession with cricket end... Other sports like hockey, football, kabaddi, tennis, squash should be promoted

nasser | 8 years ago | Reply @darvesh: They are typucal trolls from India.Dont take them seriusly.

Sunil | 8 years ago | Reply What is the use? No international matches and no team wants to visit. Better of using money to feed the hungry and poor.

Sindh | 8 years ago | Reply @FATA: What do you mean by value? The land is used by humans to live, isn't life valuable enough?

Israr | 8 years ago | Reply @FATA: Wait before Bahria Town come to FATA and "give some value" to your land by building a housing society after throwing you out of your home.

Aslam | 8 years ago | Reply I wish he had named it as "Jinnah Stadium" and added few Hockey and boxing facilitied. Its a wonderful work and when the new stadium gets completed, Bahria might buy the existing old "National Stadium" from the government to launch new real estate projects. Its one of the finest piece of land in the middle of the city.

Coolfi | 8 years ago | Reply Thank you sir for naming the stadium after the great Indian singer Rafi.

Kolsat | 8 years ago | Reply @Observer: Furthermore who is going to foot the bill for construction? will that be Saudi Arabia or China?

FATA | 8 years ago | Reply @Observer: At least they are giving some value to no value land. They are investing in Pakistan. Not like other politicians. Bravo Malik Riaz

Aschraful Makhlooq | 8 years ago | Reply Good move for the betterment and welfare of cricket in Pakistan but keep it in your view that 1-Convince the other ICC's members' cricket teams to come to Pakistan for playing and 2-Observe that land for cricket stadium must be purchased honestly and sincerely according to the wish and consent of the land's owners...

darvesh | 8 years ago | Reply @Observer: Salute you for your obsession with Pakistan.

Desi | 8 years ago | Reply @Observer: You are absoluteness right. And one more thing. Whats the use of this stadium when there is no International Cricket being played here.

Observer | 8 years ago | Reply Guys, before you start lauding this project, BEWARE that the land acquired for the town has been allegedly grabbed from poor people of "goths."

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