The standard ofcricket in Pakistan has dropped significantly in recent years, with thecountry, which was once regarded as one of the game's highly-rated ambassadors,now struggling to get even the basics right. Why has Pakistani cricket suddenlybecome a topic of discussion? It's all due to a video of a cricket stadium thathas gone viral on social media. The footage shows the Khanewal Stadium inPakistan's Punjab province, which has shockingly been converted into a pumpkinand chilli farm.
Pakistan, inparticular, which was devoid of some quality international cricket due to theterrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team back in 2009, had started to playcricket again.
Interestingly, sincethe COVID-19 breakout last year, most of the international matches were onlybeing played in Lahore and Karachi.
The goal of buildingthe stadium was to produce the best cricketers for the country. The pavilionwas built of high class and the infrastructure was also made available ofinternational level. Vegetables are now being grown in this stadium which comesunder Khanewal District Administration.
When this newsreached former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, he said, “It is sad to seethis condition… It is noteworthy that Sri Lankan cricket team went on a tour ofPakistan in 2009. On March 3, 2009, when the team was travelling by bus in Lahore,terrorists attacked it with a deadly attack. It was such an incident that shookthe whole world.”
The stadium has aproper practice area, pavilion, and ground, however, it is now under thecontrol of the farmers who turned it into a farm. The stadium is now growingchili, pumpkin, etc. on its land.
Meanwhile, Pakistanwill be hosting New Zealand and England in September and October respectively.Australia are also due to travel to the country in February next year.