Shrinking grounds put grassroots cricket under pressure

Lahore’s shrinking number of playing fields is squeezing neighbourhood cricket, particularly for young players from low- and middle-income families. As rapid urban development replaces or limits historic grounds such as Minto Park, Baba Ground, Chauburji, Garhi Shahu and Dharampura, children are increasingly turning to streets and other unsafe spaces, weakening the traditional grassroots pathway through which the city’s cricket talent emerges.

Minto Park has historically played a particularly important role in Lahore’s cricketing culture. Once regarded as one of the city’s biggest cricket nurseries, it hosted dozens of club nets. During the tenure of former PCB chairman Gen (retd) Tauqir Zia, around two dozen additional nets were also installed under the Pakistan Cricket Board. Young players from across Lahore would train there under experienced coaches before returning home.

Several players who trained at Minto Park, including Inzamam-ul-Haq, Taufeeq Umar, Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad, went on to represent Pakistan at the international level. Over time, however, many of the cricket and other sporting facilities at the park disappeared.

Former ICC Test umpire and Muslim Club president Mian Aslam, along with other figures associated with local cricket, still regard Minto Park as an important part of Lahore’s cricketing history. Aslam said the park had produced seven Pakistan cricket team captains, including Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Baba Ground, Chauburji, Garhi Shahu, Dharampura and several other grounds across Lahore have also traditionally served as important centres for local cricket. Youngsters played alongside teams from local clubs, while children from families with limited financial resources could begin playing without having to pay expensive academy fees.

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Local cricket officials say pressure on these grounds has increased with the expansion of the city. In some areas, playing fields have been reduced in size, while sporting activity has been restricted or discontinued altogether. Children now increasingly turn to streets, roads, parking areas and small vacant spaces to play cricket, but residents say these are not safe alternatives because of traffic and other urban activity.

Ali Iqbal, President of Township Gymkhana, said several grounds had been taken over by housing societies and that young cricketers also faced difficulties accessing the grounds that remained. "Building new grounds alone is not enough, and existing facilities need to be restored and equipped with basic amenities."

Iqbal said the shortage of net practice facilities was also affecting the development of young players. A cricketer needed regular net practice, coaching and match experience to improve, he said, adding that a lack of suitable grounds near players’ homes could disrupt that development.

Azhar Zaidi, a leading figure at another historic cricket centre, P&T Gymkhana Club, said the club had produced internationally recognised players including Abdul Razzaq, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Irfan and Aleem Dar. He believed Lahore’s club cricket system had played an important role in developing players who later represented Pakistan at national and international levels.

Zaidi said many young players joining the club came from low- and middle-income families and that P&T Gymkhana tried, within its resources, to provide them with facilities so financial difficulties did not prevent them from developing their talent.

Lahore may still have plenty of cricketing talent, but with grounds disappearing, young players are increasingly running out of places to play. For a city that has long produced national stars from its streets, clubs and neighbourhood grounds, preserving these spaces could be key to keeping its cricketing pipeline alive.