ISLAMABAD: Nestled against the green foothills of the Margalla Hills, Pakistan’s capital is set to get its first purpose-built cricket stadium, a long-awaited project that officials say will add a major landmark to Islamabad’s sporting infrastructure and bring top-level cricket closer to its residents.
Cricket is Pakistan’s most popular sport, followed passionately across the country, and Islamabad is no exception. Fans routinely pack cafes, homes and public spaces to watch domestic and international matches, while children play taped-ball cricket in residential streets and office workers debate team selections and tactics, reflecting the game’s deep cultural hold.
Despite being the political capital, Islamabad has never had an international-standard cricket stadium of its own. High-profile matches have instead been hosted in nearby Rawalpindi or in cities such as Lahore and Karachi.
That is set to change next year.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) plans to begin construction of the city’s first cricket stadium near Islamabad’s D-12 sector, a scenic area close to the Margalla Hills. The project is expected to allow the capital to host international matches for the first time.
