Countries will jointly develop infrastructure, exchange technical expertise and improve operational standards
Saudi Cricket Federation President Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Muhammad Al Saud and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman and Federal Minister of Interior Mohsin Naqvi sign a memorandum of understanding on a new stadium project in Jeddah. PHOTO: APP
Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a new stadium project in Jeddah.
The MoU was signed by Saudi Cricket Federation President Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Muhammad Al Saud and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman and Federal Minister of Interior Mohsin Naqvi.
The partnership marked a step towards the expansion of cricket in the Middle East, as well as the sporting growth of Saudi Arabia, with Pakistan bringing decades of experience in stadium design, construction and management of cricket facilities.
Under the agreement, Islamabad and Riyadh would work together to plan the stadium, develop infrastructure, exchange technical expertise and improve operational standards, to develop a modern and world-class cricket stadium.
On the occasion, Prince Al Saud stated that the partnership is not limited to the construction of a cricket stadium in Jeddah, but will form the basis for the long-term development of cricket in Saudi Arabia.
Read: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign security memorandum of understanding, agree to develop cricket stadium in Jeddah
The prince added that the project reflects a shared vision, a strong partnership and a sustainable investment. He stated that the proposed stadium would play an important role in allowing Saudi Arabia to host international cricket matches and major sporting events.
Additionally, the project is expected to promote investment in sports, tourism and community engagement, which is in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The new Jeddah stadium could host international matches, regional tournaments and training camps, and the project would fit into Riyadh’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify sports and entertainment infrastructure.
The collaboration strengthened sports diplomacy between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia beyond traditional ties. It could also create opportunities for Pakistani engineers, architects, coaches and sports administrators. It may also attract international cricket boards to consider Saudi Arabia as a neutral venue, and the success of the project could lead to more cricket infrastructure projects across the Middle East.
Naqvi arrived in Riyadh on July 1, where he also held talks with Saudi authorities on bilateral cooperation in various fields, including security, drug prevention and institutional cooperation.
