PCB to upgrade Hyderabad’s Niaz Stadium under 20-year agreement

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to take charge of Hyderabad’s Niaz Stadium under a 20-year management agreement with the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC).

The agreement, scheduled to be signed on Tuesday, will give the PCB administrative control of the historic venue while ownership will continue to rest with the municipal corporation.

Under the arrangement, the PCB will pay HMC Rs10,000 in monthly rent and the civic body will receive 20% of ticket revenue from matches held at the stadium.

The board will also oversee commercial and broadcasting rights and is expected to bring the venue up to international standards.

The upgrade could pave the way for Niaz Stadium to host international, first-class and Pakistan Super League matches.

Established in 1959, the stadium has a long association with Pakistan cricket. It hosted its first first-class match in 1962 before staging its first Test during the 1972-73 season, when Pakistan faced England.

The Hyderabad venue later became part of cricket history when it hosted the 1,000th Test match, played between Pakistan and New Zealand.

Niaz Stadium also witnessed the first-ever ODI hat-trick in cricket history. Pakistan’s Jalal-ud-Din achieved the feat against Australia in 1982.

The stadium was also selected as a venue for the 1987 World Cup, hosting Pakistan’s match against Sri Lanka.