PCB BoG Backs Naqvi Vision As Muzaffarabad Stadium Plans Take Shape

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s 81st Board of Governors meeting carried more weight than routine approvals. Held on Tuesday and chaired by Mohsin Naqvi via video link, the session offered a clear picture of where the board wants to take its infrastructure push next.

Muzaffarabad Stadium featured prominently in the discussion. Naqvi briefed members on ongoing work and shared a long-term vision that brings the venue into regular national conversation. 

Muzaffarabad Moves Into the Spotlight

Naqvi told the meeting that efforts are underway to make Muzaffarabad Stadium capable of hosting Pakistan Super League matches as early as PSL 11. He also confirmed that international fixtures are part of the plan once requirements are met.

For a venue that has largely remained on the margins, the statement marked a shift in direction. The board views cricket expansion beyond traditional centres as essential, not optional.

Members were informed that improvements would follow a phased approach, focusing on facilities, broadcast readiness, and spectator access before bigger assignments are scheduled.

Wider Venue Upgrades Approved

The BoG also signed off on the second phase of upgradation at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium, continuing work already in progress. In Lahore, members agreed that the LCCA Stadium should be developed along the lines of an Oval-style layout, aligning it with modern design standards.

Naqvi reiterated that infrastructure planning will not remain limited to existing hubs. He added that Islamabad will see a new, state-of-the-art cricket stadium, reinforcing the board’s intention to spread top-level cricket across regions.

Recognition and Restraint

During the meeting, the BoG passed a resolution acknowledging Naqvi’s role in ensuring the continuation of Sri Lanka’s white-ball tour of Pakistan in November, a period marked by uncertainty.

Naqvi, however, pushed back on individual praise, and he credited collective effort within the PCB and support from stakeholders, stressing that outcomes of that scale are never achieved alone.

The board also commended the successful PSL roadshows in London and New York, events designed to strengthen the league’s international footprint. PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer briefed members on their impact and future planning.

The session concluded with updates on upcoming ICC men’s and women’s tournaments. Yet the clearest takeaway remained domestic, and Muzaffarabad Stadium is no longer an afterthought. The PCB wants it ready, visible, and part of the national schedule.