Peshawar's Arbab Niaz Ground renamed after legendary Imran Khan

The Arbab Niaz Ground in Peshawar has been renamed after Pakistan's legendary Imran Khan, despite the disagreement of political parties and public figures. The issue has been surrounded by controversies and with the confirmation of the venue name being changed, it has added fuel to the fire, further worsening the situation.

Constructed in 1984, Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium was the only stadium in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region and hosted many international fixtures as well. The premier cricketing venue of the city was initially named after former federal sports minister Arbab Niaz Muhammad. It last hosted an international game back in 2006, which was an ODI between Pakistan and India, and more than nineteen years have passed ever since the ground has gotten any such fixture.

The recent reports have suggested that the renaming activity of the ground was not only opposed by the regional governor and Niaz's family, but also Imran Khan himself. The former Pakistan cricketer had openly said that changing the name of the ground after him will be inappropriate. However, it turns out that the workers and ground staff have now already put up a sign board at the venue, which reads-"Imran Khan Cricket Stadium."

Peshawar is not expected to host a game in the PSL

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 is just round the corner, and the tenth edition will see six teams battle it out for earning the prized silverware. However, Peshawar Zalmi, despite being one of the force to be reckoned with in the tournament, won't be playing a match in their home city. The schedule for PSL X is already out, and venues across four cities-Multan, Rawalpindi, Karachi, and Lahore will be hosting the fixtures, starting April 11.

The representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has recently visited the site to assess and see if the ground is fit enough to host PSL or even international matches in the future. The reason for Peshawar not being among the host venues is said to be the ongoing security concerns in the surroundings.