PCB face tall task of constructing stadium before Champions Trophy

Lahore, May 26 (UNI) Waking up rather late and trying to achieve what seems near impossible, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning a world-class cricket stadium in Islamabad for the 2008 edition of the Champions Trophy.

Saleem Altaf, PCB's Director of Cricket Operations, was apprehensive about the completion of the stadium's construction even though he felt ''It is a possibility'' and said that the PCB would make best efforts to complete the work in time.

Altaf told ''The News'' that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would soon be signed with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for the allocation of land to build the proposed stadium.

''We have a couple of major tournaments to host in the coming years and would like to add to the existing cricket facilities,'' he said.

The PCB is presently waiting for a physical possession of a piece of land which it is supposed to get from the CDA.

''Once we get the physical possession then the actual work can begin,'' he said, adding that the board would start issuing tenders for the construction of the stadium once it gets possession of the land in Islamabad.

''We hope if everything goes according to the schedule, the stadium would be ready by the end of next year,'' he said.

Islamabad is yet to have a stadium of international standard.

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