Pakistan World Cup stadium plan hits snag

ISLAMABAD, Aug 7 (Reuters) Plans by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to construct a stadium in Islamabad for the 2011 World Cup have run into problems, a board official said today.

The board chose the capital for its new stadium as it does not have an international cricket venue, but the official said city planners were demanding 5 million dollars in leasing charges alone.

Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will co-host the World Cup in 2011. It will also host the 2008 Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup.

''They are giving us land for the stadium on a long-term lease but the fees they are demanding are exorbitant,'' the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.

The PCB, despite being the richest Pakistani sports body, does not actually own any of the country's stadiums. Those it has direct administrative control over are on long-term lease.

The PCB controls stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Quetta while those in Multan, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Faisalabad are managed by local authorities.

''We want the CDA (Capital Development Authority) to revise their leasing fees. We will be talking to them to sort out this problem as we want to start the construction soon,'' the official said.

''If things don't work out with the CDA then we will have to manage with the existing venues.'' he said, adding that work to upgrade the national stadium in Karachi would also begin soon.

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