Former Sports Director Calls for International Cricket Stadium in Peshawar’s Regi Lalma
Mir Basher Khan, former Director of Sports, has urged authorities to construct a modern international cricket stadium in Regi Lalma, Peshawar, arguing that existing facilities are failing to keep pace with the city’s rapidly growing population and the sport’s soaring popularity among local youth.
Currently, historic cricket venues such as Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium and Gymkhana Ground are struggling to meet the rising demand for quality sports infrastructure. Mir Basher Khan emphasized the urgent need for a new international-standard stadium in Regi Lalma and pointed out that the Sports Department already owns over 320 kanals of land in the area suitable for such development.
The proposed project would also include additional amenities, such as volleyball and tennis courts, an indoor sports gymnasium, and residential housing for Sports Department employees. These facilities, he believes, would broaden sporting opportunities available to the region and foster the development of promising athletes.
Mir Basher Khan highlighted the wealth of cricket talent in Peshawar, noting that many current national players originate from the area. He expressed confidence that with improved infrastructure, the pool of skilled cricketers would expand to the point where even the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would face a challenge in selecting the final squad.
He also welcomed the growth of private cricket grounds and academies in suburban localities like Shah Alam and Phandu Road, where a significant number of young people are undergoing training. Mir Basher Khan sees this trend as encouraging and called on the government to build on this momentum, helping to transform Peshawar into a major hub for the sport.
Advocating for international best practices, he recommended constructing cricket grounds on the outskirts of urban centers, pointing out that such locations offer players more space and a peaceful environment to concentrate on their development.
Reiterating his appeal, the former sports director stressed that Peshawar’s abundance of raw sporting talent justifies increased government investment in cricket infrastructure, giving the city’s youth greater opportunities to achieve excellence in the sport.
