Niaz Stadium Restoration Underway as Sindh Government Allocates Funds

After years of neglect, Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad is finally set for a much-needed revival after the Sindh government allocated Rs. 80 million for major renovations in its budget.

The PCB and Sindh government had already announced plans to improve the venue as it looks to host international cricket once again after a major hiatus. The installation of floodlights at the historic ground has reportedly already begun, and an additional Rs. 60 million has been reserved for building a new hostel for players under the Sindh Sports Board, adjacent to the stadium.

Out of the Rs. 80 million reserved for lighting, Rs. 40 million has been included in the current financial year’s budget, marking a clear first step in what is being seen as a broader plan to restore the stadium to international standards.

Niaz Stadium, once a prominent venue on the domestic and international circuit, has not hosted an international match since 2008, when Pakistan faced Zimbabwe in a One Day International. In the years since, a lack of maintenance and official neglect reduced the facility to near-ruin, despite significant funds previously spent on its upgrades.

Officials involved in the project have emphasized that the goal is not only to install new floodlights and build a hostel but also to comprehensively improve the stadium’s overall facilities—from the outfield to dressing rooms, media boxes, and spectator areas.

With its rich history and strategic importance as the second-largest cricket venue in Sindh, the revival of Niaz Stadium could provide a much-needed boost to cricket in the region and offer an additional venue for hosting both domestic and international fixtures.