The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that enclosures at Quetta’s Bugti Stadium will be named after legendary cricketers.
Pakistan’s most celebrated woman cricketer, Sana Mir, most successful Test captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, leading Test batter, Younis Khan, and an all-format star, Shahid Afridi, are among 10 former cricketers who will be honoured by the PCB.
The other six cricketers include Kiran Baluch, Mohammad Yousuf, Saeed Ajmal, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Khan and Shoaib Malik.
The enclosures were named after these cricketers in recognition of their contributions and services to Pakistan cricket, which also aligns with the PCB’s plans and drive to improve, uplift and enhance spectator and playing facilities at the Bugti Stadium in preparation of the venue being made to host future high-profile matches.
Chair of the PCB Management Committee, Najam Sethi, believes that this step will create awareness about star Pakistan cricketers in Balochistan.
“The contributions of these 10 cricketers are meritorious and it is important that we recognise their achievements and accomplishments by naming Bugti Stadium stands in their names. This will be PCB’s small token of appreciation to these players, which will also help in creating awareness about Pakistan stars and game development in the Balochistan province. These 10 cricketers are household names and, admired and followed by all generations of cricket lovers,” Sethi was quoted as saying by the PCB in a press release.
“The inclusion of Kiran Baluch and Sana Mir reflects the PCB’s vision and endeavours for women’s empowerment and attracting young girls to take up this great game and represent their country at the international stage. I am sure we will get to see more girls taking up this sport in Balochistan and the PCB will leave no stone unturned to develop the women’s game in this region,” he added.
Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi hoped that the PCB’s initiative will revive cricket in Balochistan.
“I am thankful to the PCB for bestowing me with this honour. I always felt privileged, motivated and determined to play my best cricket at venues that had the names of some of the biggest stars in our sport,” he said.
“I sincerely hope the next generation of Quetta cricketers will find the same motivation when playing at the Bugti Stadium that, in turn, will enhance their appetite to break into the national framework,” he added.
PCB’s five other international venues, including the Gaddafi Stadium (Lahore), Iqbal Stadium (Faisalabad), Multan Cricket Stadium (Multan), National Bank Cricket Arena (Karachi) and Pindi Cricket Stadium (Rawalpindi) already have enclosure named after former cricketers.
- Shahid Afridi