The Arbab family of Peshawar has strongly opposed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s decision to rename Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium and has urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership to reverse the move.
Speaking to reporters, Arbab Khizar Hayat and Arbab Zarak Khan declared the decision to rename the stadium as Imran Khan Cricket Stadium “unacceptable.” Zarak further stated that the family intends to challenge the decision in court.
Earlier this week, the provincial government announced its decision to rename the only international cricket venue in the province in recognition of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s contributions to sports development in Pakistan. The renaming was formally approved by the KP government on Friday.
The Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium has undergone significant changes since it was transferred from the municipal corporation to the sports board. The provincial government led its development in 1986-87, as outlined in a summary approved by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Thursday.
The stadium was further upgraded ahead of the 1996 World Cup, which was jointly hosted by Pakistan and India. Over the years, it has hosted various cricketing events, including Test matches, one-day internationals, first-class matches, and inter-club tournaments. It has welcomed teams from major cricketing nations such as Australia, England, South Africa, the West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, and Zimbabwe.
