Mirpur Stadium

fwullah · #1 February 16, 2005, 12:42 AM

Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium
New look, latest facilities for cricket
Kausar Islam Ayon

The renovation work of Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur to turn it solely for cricket has begun and the authorities hope to hold international matches there from early next year.
The authorities said the stadium would look similar to the Lords in England. It will be equipped with all modern cricketing facilities and be far more advanced than Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS).

The President of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Ali Asghar Lobi said: "This will be the best stadium in the Indian subcontinent in terms of looks and facilities."

He said an Australian specialist Gramme Watson will supervise the work on the stadium.

The decision to shift the cricket venue to Mirpur came after a long-drawn battle between two main sports federations -- football and cricket -- over the possession of the BNS. Finally, cricket gave up its right over and now the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla Stadium has been permanently earmarked for the game.

The last international cricket match at BNS -- the fifth one-day international between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe was held on January 31, 2005.

"We are at present preparing the pitch and once it is ready we will remove the existing synthetic track from the ground," said Rafiqul Islam Babu, vice-chairman of the grounds and facilities management committee of the BCB.

He said eight pitches are being prepared -- four for international matches and the rest for domestic cricket.

"We are making these pitches with local soil that has been tested by experts in Australia who confirmed that the quality of our black soil is excellent," said Babu.

A new electronic scoreboard will be installed in this stadium and the floodlights from the BNS will be shifted here.

"We also have a plan to install a large TV screen," said Babu.

He said the press and commentary boxes will have the latest technological facilities while the hospitality boxes and pavilion will be located at the south end of the stadium.

"The consultants are also contemplating on constructing two balconies in keeping with the style at the Lords stadium," said Babu.

Shops, around a hundred, that currently fringe the stadium on the outside would be shifted from their present locations ensuring security to the stadium.

"The shops around the BNS had to be kept shut for security reasons during India's last tour, causing businessmen heavy losses. We would not want a repetition of shut-downs," said Babu adding that the BCB authorities have already requested the National Sports Council (NSC) to relocate these shops and the NSC has already started groundwork on this.

"We want to make use of the whole stadium compound, even the outer circle to facilitate cricket," said Babu.

A museum to preserve the history of Bangladesh cricket will be set up at the stadium.

"A cricket museum is now the demand of time and we have plans for that. The museum will preserve all the possible documents of Bangladesh cricket," said Babu.

Secured car parking, food stalls in the gallery and a bar for corporate guests will also be added to the stadium.The BCB office too, presently housed at the BNS will be shifted to Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.

Source: Daily Star

bourny3 · #2 February 16, 2005, 01:04 AM

This is great. Good work.

RazabQ · #3 February 16, 2005, 01:33 AM

thanks fwullah! As I said in previous post, the move to Mirpur is gonna be a good thing.

Edited on, February 16, 2005, 6:35 AM GMT, by razabq.

**Nasif** · #4 February 16, 2005, 02:21 AM

I support the move. A whole stadium for cricket and nothing but cricket. Large screen TV

bdmoderator · #5 February 16, 2005, 05:54 AM

Good to see it.

bdmoderator · #6 February 16, 2005, 05:54 AM

Nasif Vai, are you sure that there will be a large TV screen???

brikonwall · #7 February 16, 2005, 09:30 AM

I think the plan to make Mirpur Stadium look like Lords is a great idea. We had one of the greatest cricket stadium in BNS, we need to keep up the tradition. Can't wait to watch a game in Mirpur Stadium.

Pundit · #8 February 16, 2005, 11:56 AM

I know many of us have a lot of fond emotions associated with Dhaka stadium & cricket.

But unfortunately because of the persistant intrusion to accommodate football and other stuff, and considering our lofty ambitions around cricket, cricket would only have been hurt in the long run.

Yes, BCB could have won the mandate today to have cricket played at the Dhaka stadium only, but that would only have been a battle won. Not a war. Each and every year, someone from the BFF, the football teams would have caused unnecessary debate over this same issue.

The progress of Bangladesh cricket simply has no time to be distracted by such issues.

My only fear is that after the BCB makes SBangla stadium into the "Lord" of BD or whatever, the footballers will want to come back to Mirpur. But maybe not, hopefully.

fwullah · #9 February 16, 2005, 12:07 PM

The biggest advantage that I see of moving from BNS to Mirpur is that BNS have drug problems all around that stadium now a days; provided that Mirpur stadium doesn't become yet another BNS - both inside (war between football & cricket or between social/political functions & cricket) and outside (war over drug problems).

Fazal · #10 February 16, 2005, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fwullah
The biggest advantage that I see of moving from BNS to Mirpur is that BNS have drug problems all around that stadium now a days;

But I heard that Mirpur have Mugger problem. If true, then they have to deal with that instead.

Ahsan · #11 February 16, 2005, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nasif
I support the move. A whole stadium for cricket and nothing but cricket. Large screen TV

agree. but won't that be nice had there been a decision regarding playing occasional matches at BNS?

bourny3 · #12 February 17, 2005, 01:03 AM

Thanks for the picture Nasif.

tas · #13 August 16, 2006, 01:24 AM

Anyone have any news on Mirpur Stadium? I'm pretty curious as to what this stadium currently looks like. The picture looks pretty shoddy to be honest. Anyone have any pictures of the place redeveloped?

tutul · #14 August 16, 2006, 03:47 AM

australian dia noksa !

dekhta hoba Loards er moto !

modern cricketing facilities thakba !

indian subcontient er sobcha sundor stadium hoba !

100% deshi mati diya dui hali pitch toiri !

ujjol alor bonna !

electronic scoreboard !

su-bishal TV porda !

stadium er chardika eaksotor moto dokan !

cricket jadughor hoba !

porjapto rickshaw-garir parking thakba !

khawa-dawar stall !

bar: pagla panir babostha !

kintu koba? koba hoba ses? galobar er agarbar thaka suntachi ai ses hoi, sai ses hoi, kintu kaj kokhonoi ses hoi na. amar mona hoi na ai sorkar ata ses korba. arpor poroborti sorkar asa hoito noksa poriborton kora aro 4/5 bochor lagaba.

hope we have it before WC 2011

Spitfire_x86 · #15 August 16, 2006, 04:32 AM

I went by the Mirpur stadium few days ago. The stadium (from the outside) and it's adjacent areas look rubbish. Overall the place didn't seem fit for international cricket.

Hopefully the stadium will turn out good, and the external issues will be taken care of.

Carte Blanche · #16 August 16, 2006, 07:28 AM

Google Earth pic of Mirpur Stadium:

Click to get a larger view.

Tigers_eye · #17 August 16, 2006, 08:17 AM

Idea!!!
Will there be a hall of fame room? Pictures from the past, trophies won. Obviously, it has to be well secured. That would be a sight to see for the public.

**Nasif** · #18 August 16, 2006, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carte Blanche
Google Earth pic of Mirpur Stadium:

Click to get a larger view.

Here is the one that I posted in Google Earth thread:

istiak · #19 August 16, 2006, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nasif
Here is the one that I posted in Google Earth thread:

Swiming pool ta te ki water cricket er aiojon kora hobe naki?

mildwind · #20 August 16, 2006, 10:34 AM

sweet.hope the work will end as it is planned and scheduled.cant imagine we will have a stadium which will look similiar to Lord's stadium.

SMHasan · #21 August 16, 2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tutul
australian dia noksa !

dekhta hoba Loards er moto !

modern cricketing facilities thakba !

indian subcontient er sobcha sundor stadium hoba !

100% deshi mati diya dui hali pitch toiri !

ujjol alor bonna !

electronic scoreboard !

su-bishal TV porda !

stadium er chardika eaksotor moto dokan !

cricket jadughor hoba !

porjapto rickshaw-garir parking thakba !

khawa-dawar stall !

bar: pagla panir babostha !

kintu koba? koba hoba ses? galobar er agarbar thaka suntachi ai ses hoi, sai ses hoi, kintu kaj kokhonoi ses hoi na. amar mona hoi na ai sorkar ata ses korba. arpor poroborti sorkar asa hoito noksa poriborton kora aro 4/5 bochor lagaba.

hope we have it before WC 2011

The main worries are these my friend.

israr · #22 August 16, 2006, 04:03 PM

will it be used for the coming home series against Zimbabwe, and what will be the final capacity. please someone answer my question.

Rabz · #23 August 17, 2006, 03:01 AM

as usual, our politicians and administrators alike are big in talking, without any result.
the stadium should hv bn ready by now...

i was reading a report on Prothom Alo a while back, where the company responsible for the stadium said politics were playing a big role in the slow progres of the stadium renovation.

they build Bogra stadium in like 8 months spending almost 30 crore taka because everyone knows why. and a result, all the money was diverted towards that stadium and the Mirpur one was neglected for a long time.

the last Australia series would hv been the best time and best team possible to open the new stadium. but our admins failed to do so. lets see if they can open it before WC 2011.

HereWeGo · #24 August 17, 2006, 04:44 AM

It was suppsed to be used during the Australia series. So guess January is still a long way away; might be january of 2010!!!( cmon guys it is not like they lied). i am sure Australia will come back to Bangladesh in 5 years time and we can inauguratre the stadium by then.

HawkEye000 · #25 August 17, 2006, 06:19 PM

Our company is working on the construction part (pavalion, dressing room, hospitality box, etc) of the Mirpur Stadium and I just talked over phone(as i dont live in bd) with the project engineer of that project and he told me that we are scheduled to hand it over on 31st August. The inital delay was due to NSC's delay in giving the work order (it happens as every official desire to get some money before they give the green signal for anything). Though we got the project from BCCB (and its consultant) but as it is being funded by NSC so they were the one giving the work order. So after we got the contract there was a 4-5 month delay before NSC gave the work order and any work on the project started.

But there are still some interior related work to be done and it was not part of our contract and BCCB is soon going to float a tender for that. But whoever gets that it shouldn't take long.

Another construction company got the contract for outfield, drainage etc and it was completed a couple of months back. A few crore taka was spent just on that alone, so the outfield and drainage sytem should be quite good too.

So the stadium would surely be ready by the time Zimbabwe comes in November. But everything may not look good from the outside and as the BCCB normally goes for beautification projects just before any foreign team's tour.