A rain-hit Pakistan Super League clash in Lahore has sparked a major controversy, with former cricketers questioning how massive spending on stadium upgrades failed to ensure basic playing conditions. Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal raised serious concerns over the Pakistan Cricket Board’s handling of infrastructure after the PSL 2026 match between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi at Gaddafi Stadium was abandoned on March 31 without a ball being bowled.
Expressing his frustration, Akmal questioned the basis of the heavy investment made before the Champions Trophy. “Yaar mujhe lag raha hai itna paisa Champions Trophy se pehle laga, kis base pe laga — ye saari cheezein dekhni thi na,” (I feel so much money was spent before the Champions Trophy, on what basis was it spent? Where did it go? These are the things that should have been looked into), he said on the YouTube channel ‘Game Plan’. He emphasised that drainage should have been the top priority, adding, “Drainage system sabse best karna tha aap kaise paani wahan pe khada ho sakta tha.” (The drainage system should have been the top priority, how can water remain standing there like that?).
Akmal also pointed out basic logistical failures, particularly regarding ground covers. “Cover mangwa ek minute mein aaya — thode cover zyada badha lo yaar, aapko pata hai ke har match hamare liye kitna important hai,” (Covers can be brought in a minute—just increase their number, you know how important every match is for us) he remarked, highlighting how simple measures could have prevented the situation. Insisting on the importance of planning, he added, “Jab aap itna paisa laga rahe hain toh yeh sabse important cheez thi design karne ki — drainage system sahi rakhna tha.” (When you are spending this much money, the most important thing in design should have been ensuring proper drainage).
Drawing comparisons with global standards, Akmal said, “Melbourne mein, Sri Lanka mein jitne bhi stadium hain — wahan paani khada nahi hota… within five minutes drain ho jaata hai,” (In Melbourne and in Sri Lanka, water doesn’t remain on the ground; it gets drained within five minutes), adding that such inefficiency was unacceptable in conditions where heavy rainfall is relatively rare. He further remarked, “Aur above all ye toh hamare yahan itni barish hi nahi hoti — usme hum nahi kar pa rahe.” (And above all, it doesn’t even rain that much here, yet we still can’t manage it).
Basit frustrated too
Showing his concerns, former cricketer Basit Ali stressed the importance of proper ground design. “Ground mein slope honi chahiye — slope hoga toh drain hoga,” (The ground should have a slope only then will water drain properly) he said, while also revealing that issues with drainage had been flagged even before the tournament began.
The match was ultimately called off 30 minutes before the cut-off for a five-over contest. Although the rain stopped, the outfield remained waterlogged, forcing officials to abandon play and award one point each to both teams.
The Pakistan Cricket Board had completed Gaddafi Stadium’s renovation in just 117 days, inaugurated by Shehbaz Sharif on February 7, 2025. While the original budget for upgrades across Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi was ₹12.8 billion, it eventually exceeded ₹18 billion, as confirmed by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Despite visible upgrades like new floodlights, LED towers, expanded seating, and hospitality boxes, the latest incident has raised a critical question about whether core functionality like drainage was overlooked.
