HYDERABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) will sign an agreement on Tuesday to hand over the management of Niaz Stadium to the board for 20 years.
According to HMC, the PCB will pay Rs10,000 in monthly rent to the civic body. The corporation will also receive 20% of the stadium’s gate-ticket revenue.
Ownership of the historic stadium will remain with HMC. However, the PCB will receive full administrative control and rights over commercial and broadcasting activities at the venue.
Under the agreement, the PCB will upgrade Niaz Stadium to international standards. The improvements will allow the venue to host international, first-class and Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches.
The long-term arrangement aims to improve the condition of the historic ground and restore its status as a major cricket venue in Sindh.
Niaz Stadium Regains Cricket Prominence
Niaz Stadium has recently regained prominence in Pakistan’s cricket landscape.
In February 2026, the official name and logo of the seventh PSL franchise were unveiled at a ceremony held at the stadium. The event marked the team’s formal entry into the tournament.
The proposed 20-year arrangement is expected to provide the venue with improved facilities and greater opportunities to host major cricket events.
Niaz Stadium’s Cricket History
Niaz Stadium was established in 1959 and has a seating capacity of around 15,000 spectators.
The venue hosted first-class cricket for the first time in 1962. It staged its first Test during the 1972-73 season when Pakistan drew with England.
The stadium later hosted four more Tests. One of these was the 1,000th Test in cricket history, played between Pakistan and New Zealand.
Niaz Stadium also hosted a 1987 World Cup match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Pakistan won the match in front of a capacity crowd.
However, the venue gradually lost its international status because of inadequate facilities and accommodation issues.
Its last ODI was played during the 1997-98 season.
The PCB later upgraded the stadium in 2007. Pakistan subsequently hosted Zimbabwe in an ODI at the venue in January 2008, ending a decade-long wait for international cricket in Hyderabad.
The ground remained under PCB management for 11 years. However, the Qasimabad Municipal Committee revoked the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on April 2, 2018, and took back control of the venue.
The new agreement is expected to give Niaz Stadium another opportunity to return to the international cricket calendar.
