da bet sport： The Cricket Centre Pakistan (CCP) located in Defence HousingAuthority, Phase VI, has launched an ambitious Rs223million expansionproject to upgrade and improve its infrastructure while hoping that itwould become operational by June 2003
05-Oct-2001The Cricket Centre Pakistan (CCP) located in Defence HousingAuthority, Phase VI, has launched an ambitious Rs223million expansionproject to upgrade and improve its infrastructure while hoping that itwould become operational by June 2003.The CCP, which only had a cricket ground that hosted the 1993-94 Testbetween Pakistan and Zimbabwe, plans to construct a bowling alley, anauditorium for seminars, six indoor cricket nets, multipurposeindoor courts for basketball, badminton, three tennis courts, Olympicstandard swimming pool, three squash courts and fitness gymnasium onthe 10 acre land out of which six has been consumed by the cricketfield.In addition to this, the seating capacity of the cricket ground wouldbe doubled from 7,000 to 14,000. In a later stage, the ground would beequipped with floodlights. “We decided to upgrade the complex becauseour source of income from the cricket ground was not enough to eitherattract multi-nationals or look after the maintenance or includeadditional facilities. But once the complex becomes operational, wewill bid to host international matches besides making the groundavailable for domestic matches,” CCP chief executive Abdul Wahab said.The CCP had applied for a Rs 332 million loan from Bank Al-Habib and hasbeen released Rs 223 million. However, the bank has promised to releasemore funds in the later stages as the initial cost of renovation isestimated to be around Rs 340 million. “Once the complex becomesoperational, we are hoping that the annual turn-over from it would bearound Rs10million through membership and sponsorship,” Wahab said.The Defence Housing Authority (DHA) has leased out the land to Wahabon a 90-year lease. “CCP is not on a commercial plot. It comes in theamenity plot that also includes hospitals, clubs, parks, grounds,etc,” Wahab clarified.However, the only grey area in an attractive project is that it willnot be possible for common man use the facilities. “A common man willonly be entitled to use bowling alley and cricket ground. The rest ofthe facilities will be strictly for the club members,” Wahab said.The over 11million populated city doesn’t have a single multipurposecomplex where the general public go and spend time with theirfamilies. For any healthy society, such sports complexes are a must.Hopefully, the newly elected Karachi City Government will take somelessons from the CCP and will create facilities for the common man.