Pakistan set to get its first green cricket stadium

Although the country has found itself off the radar in international cricket as a host, Pakistan has not given up its efforts to do the best for its infrastructure for the game. If reports are to be believed, the country is set to get its first-ever green cricket stadium as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is mulling to convert the National Stadium in Karachi into a solar-powered one.

A Dubai-based Pakistani named Asad Ullah Khan who owns a solar energy company reportedly visited the stadium recently and proposed the idea of setting up a solar panel roof to the board. If this project materialises, Karachi will be home to Pakistan’s first and Asia’s second solar-powered stadium. In the UAE, solar panels have been installed to meet the energy needs of various stadiums located in the region.

“Solar energy is becoming a reliable source of power and Dubai Cricket Stadium is using solar technology to fulfil its electricity needs. Dubai stadium’s floodlights also use the green source of power,” Khan was quoted as saying according to a report in propakistani.pk. “If PCB approves this project, it will take 18 months to install solar panels at the stadium’s rooftop. The total cost of project could be around Rs 700 million.”

National Stadium has enough space to host solar panels to provide enough energy

The National Stadium, which has been a witness to many historic cricketing feats, saw cricket returning to it this year with the final of the Pakistan Super League played in it. The stadium has about 40,000 sq/m space available on its rooftop and if the entire space is covered with solar panels, it will provide about 1.5 MW of power which will be enough to power the venue’s entire needs, including the floodlights.

The National Stadium is currently undergoing a massive rehabilitation and the work will be completed by February 2019. Pakistan lost its right to host international cricket matches following a horrendous terror attack against a touring Sri Lankan side in 2009 and have been playing their home games in the UAE since then.

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