Lahore (Sports Desk): Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Dr Naseem Ashraf has said that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has done an outstanding job in the reconstruction of Gaddafi Stadium.
Dr Naseem Ashraf visited the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, where he praised efforts to improve cricket infrastructure and ongoing development projects, describing them as commendable.
He said completing the reconstruction of Gaddafi Stadium in record time ahead of the Champions Trophy was a significant achievement. The new stadium offers excellent facilities for spectators and has the potential to become one of the leading cricket venues in the world.
The former PCB chairman said the presence of world-class cricket stadiums would play an important role in helping Pakistan secure the hosting rights for ICC competitions in the future.
He also described the ongoing development work at the National Cricket Academy and LCCA Ground as impressive. According to him, international-standard facilities at the academy, comprehensive planning for the training of young players, new pavilions, a swimming pool and other modern arrangements would play an important role in preparing future cricketers.
Dr Naseem Ashraf also termed the plan to prepare 20 pitches at LCCA Ground, designed to replicate conditions in different countries, an important development. He said the opportunity to practise on pitches resembling those in Australia and South Africa would benefit Pakistani batters during overseas tours.
He said the National Cricket Academy was rapidly developing into a comprehensive, world-class training centre, which was encouraging for the future of Pakistan cricket.
The former PCB chairman also praised the performance of Director High Performance Aaqib Javed. According to him, Aaqib Javed has an excellent understanding of cricket and extensive experience, and under his supervision, work is progressing in the right direction to develop young players.
Dr Naseem Ashraf expressed hope that if the current system and planning continued, Pakistan could have a strong pool of 30 to 40 talented players at every level within the next 3 to 4 years.