The world’s highest-altitude natural cricket stadium established in Pakistan’s scenic region of Gilgit-Baltistan was inaugurated on Oct 8.
According to the sources, the Pissan Cricket Stadium is located in Nagary Valley at a height of 8,500 feet above sea level, which gives highly favourable weather for cricket in peak summer.
The stadium was inaugurated by local political leadership for which a three-kilometre-long road has also been constructed.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, during the event, said that the government of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) is looking forward to promoting the culture of a stadium in order to groom the local cricketing talent of GB.
Read more: Pissan cricket stadium to be built in Nagar, Gilgit-Baltistan, this year
“We hope that players from this region will represent Pakistan in international tournaments. Moreover, we want to unlock the region’s touristic potential that will spur economic activity in nearby villages and bring livelihood to people at their doorstep,” Wani added.
“It has the potential to become a popular tourist destination and we will leave no stone unturned to bring it on the radar of the national and international sports, and tourism community”, Wani said.
Sources reported that teams from Diamer and Nagar played the first match at the stadium during which provincial minister Fatehullah Khan was present as the chief guest.
The Diamer team won the T20 match by 90 runs as they restricted the Nagar team to 71 in chase of 161 runs target.
Enjoying the first cricket match, Patrick, a tourist commented, “I am very lucky that I am right here to see my first cricket match in the mountains of Rakaposhi,” he thanked the government of Gilgit-Baltistan for providing such healthy activities for tourists across the globe.
The decision to construct the cricket stadium was taken last year when breathtaking pictures of the Pissan ground went viral on social media in February 2021.
Last year, ex-Prime Minister Imran inaugurated Skardu International Airport and the Jaglot-Skardu strategic road to encourage tourism in the region. The airport connects the expedition hub in Gilgit–Baltistan with the world.
