PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi visited Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s residence in Sialkot, accompanied by former caretaker information minister Aamir Mir and former sports minister Wahab Riaz. The visit celebrated Sialkot’s recent triumph in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where the team secured a thrilling victory against Peshawar in the final.
Addressing the media, Khawaja Asif expressed pride in Sialkot’s achievement and highlighted the challenges facing cricket in the city, particularly the lack of a dedicated cricket stadium. He revealed a Rs. 3 billion budget allocation for constructing a stadium and suggested integrating the project with the ongoing Sialkot-Pindi Motorway development. Asif also emphasized the need for private sector involvement in commercial construction projects, urging the government to focus on larger infrastructure needs.
Asif reaffirmed his commitment to resolving Sialkot’s issues, including the stadium project, stating, “Sialkot is my city, solving its problems is my priority.” He called for support from the Punjab government to enhance cricket infrastructure.
Mohsin Naqvi congratulated Sialkot’s team on their trophy win and acknowledged Khawaja Asif’s concerns about the business aspects of construction. He encouraged the Sialkot business community to unite and fund the stadium, assuring PCB’s support for the initiative.
Naqvi also announced that Sialkot’s cricket team would compete at the national level, with additional teams joining the Pakistan Super League (PSL) this year. He confirmed that Sialkot’s team would be among the new entrants, marking an exciting milestone for the city in professional cricket.
