



The architecture design of Bahria Sports City’s Rafi Cricket Stadium has been completed, according to a press release issued by Bahria Town. Construction on what will be Pakistan’s largest cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 50,000 will begin soon.





Bahria announced the project two months back and signed a contract with GMP Germany for structural design. The three-level stadium has been designed in accordance with ICC standards. The complex will consist of a cricket academy of international standard, gymnasium, swimming pool and hostels.Famous international players will be hired at the cricket academy who will promote local as well as international cricket. The sports academy will have two full size outdoor cricket fields and 12,000 square metres indoor sports and recreational facilities. Spacious area of land has been allocated which will be sufficient to park more than 10,000 cars.Bahria CEO Ali Riaz Malik said the construction of the largest cricket stadium was an honour for his organisation.Bahria Town has awarded contract of the stadium to famous German firm, GMP Architects, which has also built an international cricket stadium at Dubai Sports City. In this regard, the Bahria Town’s Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Ali Riaz Malik and GMP Architects’ Markus Pfisterer signed a deal in Dubai in February.Speaking on the occasion, Ali Riaz said Bahria Town had the distinction of introducing the most modern facilities in Pakistan. “It is an honour to build Pakistan’s largest cricket stadium in Karachi. The project will help in encouraging sports as well as tourism in the country,” he said.He said the real estate group will keep introducing such projects, which are greatly appreciated by the general public. “Such projects will, insha Allah, prove to be the best projects of the country,” he added.(TRANSLATION BY ARSHAD SHAHEEN)Published in The Express Tribune, April 25, 2016.