PCB to Rename Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is mulling over changing the name of Lahore’s iconic Gaddafi Stadium as it plans to offer the naming rights of the stadium along with several others to sponsors. The development came as PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja revealed the plan to ESPNCricInfo in an interview.

According to Ramiz Raja, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in talks with several sponsors and one of them will get the exclusive naming rights to the Lahore’s famous stadium, which will be named after the sponsor. Furthermore, the reason behind the renaming of the Gaddafi Stadium is strictly financial with no political motive behind it.

Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, initially known as the Lahore Stadium, was named after Libyan President, Muammar Gaddafi, in 1974, when he visited Lahore and gave a speech in favor of Pakistan’s right to pursue nuclear weapons at the Organization of Islamic Conference.

However, there were strong suggestions to Pakistan regarding renaming the Qaddafi Stadium after the Libyan President was ousted from power, but the change never happened and the name stuck until today. This coming change to the name will not be for any political reason but it will be strictly financial as the naming rights will be handed over to a sponsor.

Ramiz Raja has revealed that PCB has been working on such deals for some time now and Lahore Qaddafi Stadium won’t be the only one to get a name change as several other stadiums, including the National Stadium Karachi, will follow along as deals are finalized with sponsors.

Do you agree with PCB’s decision to change the name of the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore? Let us know in the comments below.

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Tags: Gaddafi Stadium