Islamabad is set to witness the construction of its first dedicated cricket stadium, with stakeholders moving forward on the proposed design and project plan. A meeting led by Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi saw CDA officials and consultants present the concept design for the stadium, which will be located in the foothills of the Margallas near Sector D-12.
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The stadium is planned to offer a seating capacity of around 32,000 and will provide an open view of the scenic Margalla Hills. To accommodate fans, a large parking facility capable of housing 10,000 cars is planned about one kilometre from the stadium. The project draws inspiration from the Dubai Cricket Stadium model and has been revised to reduce costs from an initially approved Rs12 billion to Rs8 billion.
Officials said a follow-up meeting will take place next week, after which the CDA is expected to begin the tendering process. Once construction begins, the project is estimated to be completed in two years. Islamabad’s new stadium aims to alleviate pressure on Rawalpindi Stadium, currently the only venue in the twin cities for hosting international matches. Residents have long complained about traffic congestion, road closures, and security arrangements during matches, while local businesses on Murree Road often face financial losses due to match-day disruptions.
Furqan Hussain, a Rawalpindi resident, welcomed the project but emphasized the importance of carefully evaluating the D-12 site to ensure long-term suitability. “This is the right time to make a wise decision; otherwise, generations will suffer in the name of routes and team security,” he noted.
The stadium will be a joint venture between the CDA and PCB, though a formal agreement is yet to be signed. Initial discussions indicated that the PCB would complete the construction within five years, while the CDA would allocate 280 kanals of land on a 99-year lease. Revenue from the stadium is expected to be shared in a 70:30 ratio between the PCB and CDA.
Previous attempts to build a cricket stadium in Shakarparian were scrapped by the Supreme Court. Originally, in 1960, Greek firm Doxiadis Associates had designated 2,250 acres in Shakarparian as a sports centre in Islamabad’s master plan. While some facilities such as a sports complex, museum, Lok Virsa, a golf course, and Islamabad Club were built, the stadium project was halted in 1979 when the area was incorporated into a national park, ending its independent status.
With the D-12 site now chosen, the CDA and PCB aim to create a modern cricket venue that addresses the challenges faced at Rawalpindi Stadium while providing an iconic facility for the capital city.
