Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Explained

Ground Name:Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
راولپنڈی کرکٹ سٹیڈیم
Nickname:Pindi Cricket Stadium
Country:Pakistan
Location:Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
Establishment:19 January 1992
Seating Capacity:15,000[1]
Owner:Pakistan Cricket Board
Operator:Northern Cricket Association
Tenants:Pakistan national cricket team
Northern cricket team
Islamabad United
End1:Pavilion End
End2:Shell End
International:true
Firsttestdate:9–14 December
Firsttestyear:1993
Firsttesthome:Pakistan
Firsttestaway:Zimbabwe
Lasttestdate:1–5 December
Lasttestyear:2022
Lasttesthome:Pakistan
Lasttestaway:England
Firstodidate:19 January
Firstodiyear:1992
Firstodihome:Pakistan
Firstodiaway:Sri Lanka
Lastodidate:29 April
Lastodiyear:2023
Lastodihome:Pakistan
Lastodiaway:New Zealand
Firstt20idate:7 November
Firstt20iyear:2020
Firstt20ihome:Pakistan
Firstt20iaway:Zimbabwe
Lastt20idate:21 April
Lastt20iyear:2024
Lastt20ihome:Pakistan
Lastt20iaway:New Zealand
Date:21 April
Year:2024
Source:http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/59006.html Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Cricinfo

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is a cricket stadium located in Rawalpindi, Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located close to Pir Meher Ali Shah University and Rawalpindi Arts Council. The first international match at the stadium was played on 19 January 1992, when Sri Lanka faced Pakistan in an ODI.[2] The stadium hosted its first Test match in 1993, when Zimbabwe toured Pakistan.[3]

Test cricket returned to Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium during the 2019 two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The first test match was held from 11–15 December 2019 in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

History

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was established in 1992 and replaced Pindi Club Ground as an international stadium.[4] [5] It is the home ground of Islamabad United and Northern cricket team.[4] Before the construction of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi Club Cricket Ground had been used as a venue for international matches, including one Test match against New Zealand that was held in March 1965.[6]

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was a prime spot in the 1995–96 Cricket World Cup. With an eye on the that World Cup, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled a new Test venue for the second Test against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi, becoming the country's 14th Test ground. The floodlights were added in late 2001 when the Australians were set to tour the region. The stadium is just 20 minutes from the capital Islamabad and is the only international cricket stadium in the Islamabad Capital territory.

This stadium is the home ground and international debut ground of world's fastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar who is called with the nickname of Rawalpindi Express.

In the 2nd ODI of 2004 Samsung ODI series, while other Indian batters are getting struggling with the pace and spin attack of Pakistan, Sachin Tendulkar played a courageous knock of 141 (135) in this ground.

Return of international cricket

In April 2018, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the venue, along with several others in the country, would get a makeover to get them ready for future international matches and fixtures in the Pakistan Super League.[7]

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test match

In October 2019, the PCB proposed hosting the two Test matches in Pakistan, instead of the UAE, at venues in Rawalpindi and Karachi.[8] Sri Lanka Cricket said that they were "very positive" with regards to the progress of playing Test cricket in Pakistan.[9] In November 2019, the PCB confirmed the dates and venues for the Test series, with the first test match taking place in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 11 to 15 December.[10] It was the first test match played at this venue after 15 years and first International match after 13 years.[11]

Cricket World Cup

This Stadium hosted three ODI matches during the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

1996 Cricket World Cup

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Records

Tests

RecordRunsTeam/playerOppositionDate
Highest team total657 England Pakistan1 December 2022
Lowest team total139/10 West Indies Pakistan29 November 1997
Highest individual score270 Rahul Dravid Pakistan13 April 2004
Highest partnership323 Aamer Sohail & Inzamam-ul-Haq West Indies29 November 1997

One Day Internationals

RecordRunsTeam/playerOppositionDate
Highest team total337/3 Pakistan New Zealand29 April 2023
Lowest team total104/10 Zimbabwe Sri Lanka29 November 1997
Highest individual score188* Gary Kirsten United Arab Emirates16 February 1996
Highest partnership204 Saleem Malik & Inzamam-ul-Haq Sri Lanka19 November 1992

T20 Internationals

RecordRunsTeam/playerOppositionDate
Highest team total194/4 New Zealand Pakistan24 April 2023
Lowest team total134/7 Zimbabwe Pakistan8 November 2020
Highest individual score102 Babar Azam Zimbabwe7 November 2020
Highest partnership100 Babar Azam & Haider Ali Zimbabwe8 November 2020

List of five wicket hauls

Key

SymbolMeaning
DateDay the Test started or ODI was held
InnInnings in which five-wicket haul was taken
OversNumber of overs bowled.
RunsNumber of runs conceded
WktsNumber of wickets taken
EconRuns conceded per over
DrawnThe match was drawn.

Tests

Twelve five-wicket hauls have been taken in Test matches at the ground.[12]

No.BowlerDateTeamOpposing teamInnOversRunsWktsEconResult
1 Waqar YounisPakistan won
2 Heath StreakPakistan won
3 Pakistan won
4 Pakistan won
5 Pakistan won
6 Pakistan won
7 Drawn
8 Pakistan won
9 Australia won
10 Pakistan won
11 Hasan Ali (1/2) Pakistan won
12 Pakistan won
13 Hasan Ali (2/2) Pakistan won
14 Drawn
15 England won

One Day Internationals

Five five-wicket hauls have been taken in One Day Internationals at the ground.[13]

No.BowlerDateTeamOpposing teamInnOversRunsWktsEconResult
1 Pakistan won
2 Shaheen AfridiPakistan won
3 Iftikhar AhmedPakistan won
4 Mohammad HasnainTied
5 Blessing MuzarabaniTied

See also

External links

33.6514°N 73.0761°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Pakistan Cricket Grounds ESPNcricinfo.com . 2022-11-16 . Cricinfo.
  2. Web site: Full Scorecard of Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 5th ODI 1991/92 - Score Report ESPNcricinfo.com . 2022-03-06 . ESPNcricinfo . en.
  3. Web site: Full Scorecard of Pakistan vs Zimbabwe 2nd Test 1993/94 - Score Report ESPNcricinfo.com . 2022-03-06 . ESPNcricinfo . en.
  4. Web site: Documentary: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Radio Pakistan.
  5. News: 2005-10-25 . Pakistan ground guide: Rawalpindi . en-GB . . 2022-10-01.
  6. Web site: Full Scorecard of New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st Test 1964/65 - Score Report . ESPNcricinfo.com. 18 November 2021.
  7. Web site: Pakistan plans makeover for stadiums . International Cricket Council . 17 April 2018.
  8. Web site: PCB propose Rawalpindi and Karachi as venues for Sri Lanka Test series . ESPN Cricinfo . 26 October 2019.
  9. Web site: SLC 'very positive' about touring Pakistan in December . ESPN Cricinfo . 29 October 2019.
  10. Web site: Pakistan to play Sri Lanka Tests in front of home crowds . Pakistan Cricket Board . 14 November 2019.
  11. Web site: Pakistan pacers shine as Tests come home, but Sri Lanka hold steady. 11 December 2019. ICC Cricket.com.
  12. Web site: Statistics - Statsguru - Test Matches - Bowling Records. ESPN Cricinfo. 31 August 2019.
  13. Web site: Statistics - Statsguru - One-Day Internationals - Bowling Records. ESPN Cricinfo. 31 August 2019.