Khanewal cricket stadium in Pakistan turned into a vegetable farm

Cricket is arguably the most loved sport in Pakistan. The country was devoid of some quality international cricket due to the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan team back in 2009. However, things have improved a lot since then and a lot of teams have traveled to Pakistan to play cricket and even New Zealand and England are slated to tour the country over the next couple of months.

Interestingly, since COVID-19 breakout last year, most of the international matches are being played in Lahore and Karachi only. Previously, even Multan and Faisalabad hosted cricket games. But not many stadiums are there in the country when compared to countries like India, Australia or England. In a shocking turn of events, it has now come forward that a cricket stadium in Khanewal, the Punjab Province of Pakistan, has been turned into a vegetable farm.

According to ARY News, the millions of rupees were spent to build the stadium with an aim to encourage cricketers to take up the sport. The idea was to provide them with good facilities. The stadium has a proper practice area, pavilion and ground but it is now under the control of the farmers who have turned it to a farm. The stadium which was expected to host at least domestic matches is now growing chilli, pumpkin etc. on its land.

Where are authorities????
Look how they are destroying 🏏 stadium, how they are playing with future of 🇵🇰, this is KHANEWAL’s Cricket Stadium’ Sad story….
کاش کسی کو پاکستان کے مستقبل کی فکر ہو تو یہ مرچیں کھلاڑیوں کے زخموں پر نہ لگیں pic.twitter.com/r3A8K2UfWt

— Shoaib Jatt (@Shoaib_Jatt) August 16, 2021

Pakistan to host England and New Zealand

Meanwhile, as far as international cricket is concerned, Pakistan will be hosting New Zealand and England in September and October respectively. Even Australia are due to travel to the country in February next year and this will be huge for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). They are hoping that this might set the precedence for all the teams to regularly tour the country to play cricket from now on.

And if they are to host a proper international season, Pakistan will need more stadiums to take the sport in every corner of the country.