'No need for boat or square shape for the field'
With the change in government, the stadium originally designed in the shape of a boat and named after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will see major modifications to its name, design, and construction plans.
Two days ago, following a board meeting, the BCB president, Faruque Ahmed announced the cancellation of the tender for the Sheikh Hasina International Cricket Stadium, known as 'The Boat'.
He stated that it was not feasible to continue with such a large-budget project at the moment. On that same day, the head of the country's cricket board mentioned that he would visit the allocated land for the stadium in Purbachal.
Today, Saturday, Faruque, accompanied by several BCB directors and officials, visited the site.
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After touring the 37.5 acres of land, the BCB president spoke to the media about the progress of the stadium and field construction, as well as future plans. When asked about changes to the field's shape, he clarified that a cricket field does not need to be boat-shaped or square. "A cricket field is oval-shaped," he said.
The name 'The Boat' evokes the stadium's design concept, which was originally envisioned as boat-shaped and named after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. However, with changes in government, this stadium is also undergoing alterations. The plans for the stadium, including its name and design, will see further modifications.
After inspecting the land with BCB directors Nazmul Abedin Fahim, Akram Khan, Khaled Mahmud Sujon, Iftikhar Ahmed Mithu, Fahim Sinha, Kazi Inam, Manzurul Islam, and BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury, Faruque announced that priority will be given to constructing two fields, although initially, only one field will be built.
Regarding changes to the field's design, Faruque mentioned, "There is no need for a boat or square shape for the field. What's needed is an oval shape. We will build what is necessary." He also hinted at possible changes to the name, stating, "The decision will be made jointly by the Ministry of Sports and the cricket board."
Faruque outlined a phased approach, saying, "We will proceed step by step. There were plans for two fields and a large stadium, but at present, we cannot afford such a budget. Therefore, we will start with one field and then work on constructing the next one. We will begin work on the field soon. We have various games, including age-group, women's cricket, and club cricket. So, we will build this field accordingly."
The BCB has plans for the development of various fields across the country, and this field will be part of that initiative. The BCB president added, "After taking responsibility, our primary intention was to improve existing fields. We were also considering new fields. Since this is our own land, we had a plan for it. Now we will try to transform it into a field structure as quickly as possible. This will complement our plans for improving other fields."
