Renaming of Gaddafi Stadium on the cards, PCB invites proposals for naming rights

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to change the name of Lahore’s historic Gaddafi Stadium and invited cricket fans to submit proposals for the venue’s new naming rights, 24NewsHD TV reported on Tuesday.

According to reports aired by a private television channel, the cricket board has opened the process for interested parties to submit proposals for the stadium’s new name.

Individuals and organisations wishing to participate have been asked to submit their suggestions to the PCB by March 24.

Sources said the PCB had previously attempted to rename the stadium by offering naming rights through a tender process.

However, in 2024, the board was unable to finalise an agreement with a private bank after both sides failed to reach a complete consensus on the terms of the deal.

Under the earlier proposed arrangement, the PCB was expected to receive around Rs1 billion for a five-year naming rights contract.

Gaddafi Stadium was built in 1959 and designed by architect and civil engineer Nasreddin Murat-Khan and construction was completed by Mian Abdul Khaliq and Company.

 It was originally established as the Lahore Stadium.

On 19 March 1972, the stadium was renamed in honour of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi by the then president of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, while addressing a public meeting in Lahore.

Gaddafi Stadium has a capacity of 34,000.

The headquarters of the Pakistan Cricket Board are situated at Gaddafi Stadium, thus making it the home of the Pakistan national cricket team.

With the process reopened, stakeholders have once again been allowed to present their proposals for renaming the iconic venue, which has long been regarded as one of Pakistan’s premier cricket stadiums and regularly hosts major domestic and international matches.