Mini World Cup venue requires massive clean-up (5 October 1998)
The newly-installed floodlights and electronic scoreboard at the Bangabandhu National Stadium will be formally inaugurated on October 12 with a day-night match between two local selections
05-Oct-1998
5 October 1998
Mini World Cup venue requires massive clean-up
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh-England ODI on 23 October
The newly-installed floodlights and electronic scoreboard at the
Bangabandhu National Stadium will be formally inaugurated on October
12 with a day-night match between two local selections. Finance
Minister ASM Kibria will do the honours.
The lights and the scoreboard have been installed ahead of the
forthcoming Wills International Cup to be held at the stadium from the
24th of this month. Nine Test-playing nations will take part in the
10-day long knock-out tournament.
This was revealed by State Minister for Youth and Sports Obaidul
Quader after a visit yesterday afternoon to the Bangabandhu Stadium to
inspect the preparatory works. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)
president and Deputy Minister for Shipping Saber Hossain Chowdhury,
Sports Secretary ASM Shahjahan, National Sports Council (NSC)
secretary SM Ali Kabir, and other senior NSC and BCB officials were
also present during Quader's visit.
Although Quader was quite happy with the preparation inside the
stadium, he expressed his utter disappointment about the general
cleanliness outside the stadium which has virtually become a rubbish
dump.
"The environment around the stadium is too unhealthy due to the
rubble, waste soil and encroachment by shop owners. It needs drastic
improvement," said Quader
The minister instructed the NSC officials to clean the outside area of
the stadium before October 12.
After the visit, Quader had an amiable session with the local press
along with the BCB boss where he also revealed that Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina is likely to inaugurate the mega event and also may be
present in the final as chief guest. Both the ceremonies will be kept
simple.
The Minister also informed that the NSC has spent Tk 16 crore for the
renovation works at the Bangabandhu National Stadium which includes
the new flood lights, electronic scoreboard, press box and the
post-match briefing room. He also said that he would inspect the three
practice venues --BUET ground, Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium and Sultana
Kamal Women Sports Complex today.
BCB boss Saber said that the first ODI between Bangladesh and England
will be held at the BKSP ground on October 23. England may also play
another ODI either with Zimbabwe or against New Zealand.
Zimbabwe will arrive in the capital on October 17 while England and
New Zealand are scheduled to reach Dhaka on the following day.
Saber also said that Pakistan's World Cup winning captain Imran Khan
and his wife have been invited along with other dignitaries to attend
the tournament. He also informed that former Indian captain Sunil
Gavaskar would not be coming to Dhaka because of his personal
sponsorship problems.
Meanwhile, a massive beautification programme has been taken to
decorate the Bangabandhu National Stadium for the Wills International
Cup.
S&J, a local interior designing company, has been assigned with the
decoration job.
S&J will implant a few flower gardens outside the boundary line and
will also install a podium outside the VIP gate which will boast the
flags of all the nine Test playing nations during the 10 day long
meet.
Source:: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)