Sheikh Hasina International Cricket Stadium or The Boat is an under-construction cricket stadium located in Sector-I of multi-billion dollar Purbachal New Town on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh.[2] The stadium is a joint venture of National Sports Council and Bangladesh Cricket Board. Planned to open in 2026, the stadium will serve as the home to Bangladesh national cricket team and Dhaka Dynamites of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).[3]

SHICS

The Boat
Location	Express Hwy, Sector 1, Purbachal, Dhaka
Coordinates	23.8363°N 90.4789°E / 23.8363; 90.4789
Public transit	Dhaka Metro Rail Line 1
Owner	National Sports Council Bangladesh Cricket Board
Operator	Bangladesh Cricket Board
Executive suites	120
Capacity	50,000 (expandable to 70,000)[1]
Acreage	38 acres (15 ha)
Surface	Australia grass
Construction
Broke ground	28 November 2019
Construction cost	৳1300 crore (US$140 million)
Architect	Populous
Main contractors	Populous
Tenants
Bangladesh national cricket team (Starting 2026-27 season)

Overview

SHICS will be developed as a multi-function area. Other than a cricket stadium, the complex will also have indoor sports and water sports facilities. Other than the sports facilities, transit-oriented development with a five-star hotel would be developed in the stadium area. An outer stadium with a capacity of at least 2,500 spectators will also be developed which can be used for art performances besides sports.[1]

The stadium is being constructed in Sector I of Purbachal New Town, in close proximity to multi-billion dollars Iconic City development project. The stadium will have five-storied pavilion, 3-tier stands with a capacity of 50,000, and the option to add at least 25,000 additional seats. The budget for the development of the stadium is estimated at ৳1300-crores ($140 million), making it the most expensive cricket stadium in Asia. From the budget, ৳37 crores were allocated towards the development of a separate practice facility for Bangladesh national cricket team.

Development

The venue is located in about 38 acres (15 ha) of land east of Turag River at Purbachal Express Highway. Groundbreaking of the ৳1100 crore (US$120 million) stadium began in November 2019 and is expected to be completed by December 2022.[4] Upon completion in 2022, The stadium will become the third largest-ever cricket stadium in terms of capacity, and the most expensive cricket stadium in Asia.[5][6][7][8]

In August 2019, Bangladesh Cricket Board released a notice of Expression of Interest (EOI), inviting consultancy firms to submit detailed designs and construction plans for the stadium.[9] But The designing and construction process was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

In October 2022, Australia based architectural firm Populous was awarded the contract to design and build the stadium in a 30-months timeframe.[10][11]

See also

• List of megaprojects in Bangladesh
• Stadiums in Bangladesh

References