PCB chief seeks appointment with Musharraf for control of stadium

Lahore, May 15 (UNI) Indicating that Pakistan is in no mood to waste time after the Asian bloc bagged the 2011 World Cup, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has sought an appointment with President Pervez Musharraf, seeking his support to allow the board take control of the major stadiums in the country.

Pakistan is part of the Asian countries -- India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh being its other allies in the bloc -- which made a successfull bid for the 2011 event but the ICC has reminded that the stadiums should be 'clean' and of international standard.

But PCB doesn't enjoy control over most of the stadium and according to ''The Nation'', the board chairman wants General Musharraf's support to get control of the venues.

''The (PCB) chairman has requested the president for a meeting.

However, the Presidential Secretariat has yet to confirm the meeting,'' the daily quoted a PCB official as saying.

Secretariat staff, however, has asked the PCB chief to be ready for a meeting at a short notice even though they have not finalised the date.

Mr Khan is expected to brief President Musharraf, also chief patron of the board, about the success of the Asian bloc in winning the World Cup bid and the importance of start preparation now.

The main purpose of the proposed meeting would be to convince the President about the necessity of taking full administrative control of the stadiums in three major cities -- Rawalpindi, Faislabad and Multan -- where local governments control the venues.

Senior PCB official Saleem Altaf, meanwhile, informed that Mr Khan would be meeting head of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to discuss the construction of a stadium in Islamabad.

He also ruled out PCB taking over the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar.

Peshawar is not hosting World Cup or the Champions Trophy matches and hence local administration can continue with this venue, he said.

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