The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalized a PKR 1 billion deal with a private bank for the naming rights of Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for five years. Although the PCB has not officially announced the agreement, insiders confirmed its completion. Similar to the renaming of Karachi’s National Stadium, Gaddafi Stadium will now bear the bank’s name.
An insider revealed, “The deal is for one billion rupees, while the board sold naming rights for the Karachi stadium for 450 million dollars.” The new agreement will rebrand Gaddafi Stadium, which has been named after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi since 1974.
This move follows the precedent set by former PCB chairman and ex-captain Ramiz Raja, who initiated the sale of naming rights for cricket stadiums in Pakistan in 2021. During his tenure, the PCB renamed the National Stadium in Karachi as the National Bank Cricket Arena through a similar deal.
Current PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the country’s interior minister, aims to use these deals to help finance the renovation of Pakistan’s three main stadiums ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Additionally, Naqvi hopes to increase revenue streams to support domestic cricket, which would benefit the overall development of the sport in Pakistan.
These efforts indicate a strategic shift by the PCB to manage operational costs while enhancing revenue through partnerships and sponsorships.
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