National Stadium Karachi hosted the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2018’s final last year.
This was the first time, after more than a decade, that an international game was played at Karachi’s national stadium.
This is probably why the spectators didn’t care about the unfinished renovation work at the stadium and enjoyed the final and the three-match T20 series against West Indies in a roofless stadium.
However, it has been almost another year since that event, and the renovation work at the National Stadium is yet to finish.
It should be mentioned here that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced to host eight games of PSL 4 in Pakistan – including Karachi which also gets the final, once again!
However, the continuous delay in the overhaul has caused serious concerns.
Karachi stadium’s construction work started two years ago, back in 2017, and with just five weeks in the start of PSL 4, the revamp work, especially the placement of fibre on the roof is yet to start.
PCB has exported the especial tensile fabric for the roof from Malaysia, but the technician staff is yet to arrive for its fixing.
Project Engineer, Mumtaz Hussain, was still hopeful that he would deliver a ready-to-go stadium before the start of the fourth season of PSL.
“We are confident that the work will be completed before the PSL final,” said Mumtaz. “Majority of the work at the stadium is complete apart from a few areas, and we are working day and night to finish the remaining work.”
Hussain also mentioned why it was taking them some time to install the fabric over the roof.
He said it was a special fabric — tensile material — and would last for an extended period and thus requires careful installation and quarterly cleaning.
“The fabric will last for around 25 years and can sustain, both, heavy rain and high temperatures,” he said. “After installation, quarterly cleaning of the fabric will also take place.”
2 Saal Se Ban Raha hai Itna Late Q PCB Take An Action