The Project Implementation Group (PIG) sat for the first meeting regarding a new cricket stadium in Purbachal, where the government recently allocated 37 acres of land for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The BCB, who will have sole rights over the stadium, has already proposed the name 'Sheikh Hasina International Cricket Stadium'. There are big plans in the works, with an academy ground and building, swimming pool, gym and other facilities adjacent to the stadium.

"We had the first meeting of PIG today [Saturday] and we chalked out plans on how we would work on this project. This land has already been registered for the BCB with directions from the Prime Minister and we will get the position by this month. After we get the position we will start working. The physical work will not begin before next winter. We are expecting it will take two years to complete the stadium after the work begins," BCB director Mahbub Anam told the reporters yesterday.

There was also discussion over other stadiums in the country which required renovation.

The gallery, hospitality box and media centre at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna were damaged followed by the tornado back in April 2016.

Mirpur's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium also requires a lot of work, especially in the stands and the press box. As the National Sports Council (NSC) holds the ownership of the stadium, BCB's media commitee chairman Jalal Younus said they were waiting for NSC to start renovations.

"The stadiums we are using at the moment in Khulna or Chattogram all require renovation and perhaps the situation of the Khulna stadium is worse. We had only taken a lease and the requirement of construction is under NSC and they may be planning to renovate them soon," Jalal told the media.