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Iqbal Stadium

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Iqbal Stadium
Map
Coordinates31°26′2″N 73°5′9″E / 31.43389°N 73.08583°E / 31.43389; 73.08583
Public transitBus interchange Iqbal Stadium
OwnerPakistan Cricket Board
OperatorPakistan Cricket Board
Capacity18,000
Construction
RenovatedAugust 31, 2025; 3 months' time (2025-08-31)
Ground information
LocationStadium Road, Faisalabad
Establishment1978; 47 years ago (1978)
TenantsFaisalabad cricket team, Central Punjab, Pakistan
End names
Pavilion End
Golf Course End
International information
First Test16 October 1978:
 Pakistan v  India
Last Test21 January 2006:
 Pakistan v  India
First ODI23 November 1984:
 Pakistan v  New Zealand
Last ODI11 April 2008:
 Pakistan v  Bangladesh
As of 9 April 2025
Source: Iqbal Stadium, ESPNcricinfo

Iqbal Stadium (Urdu: اقبال سٹیڈیم), formerly known as Lyallpur Stadium, National Stadium, and City Stadium, is a Test cricket ground in Faisalabad, Pakistan.[1] Constructed in the 1970s, it has hosted 24 Tests and 16 ODIs so far.[2] The venue has also been a key site for Pakistan's domestic cricket tournaments, such as the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

It has a capacity of 18,000 people.[3]

History

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Iqbal Stadium was established in the early 1970s to accommodate the growing popularity of cricket in Faisalabad. Originally known as Lyallpur Stadium, it was renamed Iqbal Stadium in honor of Pakistan's national poet, Muhammad Iqbal. The stadium quickly became one of Pakistan's most important cricketing venues, hosting its first Test match in October 1978 between Pakistan and India.[4]

A modern and well-equipped cricket venue, it has suffered at the hands of weather conditions in the past. In 1998–99, the third Test against Zimbabwe was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to fog.[5] Poor visibility has also caused difficulty in playing especially during the winter.

Since its inception, Iqbal Stadium has witnessed several historic cricketing moments, including famous Test matches involving Pakistan and international teams. An thrilling Test match was played between South Africa and Pakistan in 1997–98, when the visitors bowled out the hosts for 92 runs, successfully defending a target of 142 on the final day.[6] Then, in the 2004–05 season, Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka scored 253 as his team romped to a 201-run victory.[7]

The ground is, however, most renowned for the on-field spat between England captain Mike Gatting and Pakistani umpire Shakoor Rana during England's 1987–88 tour. While being the square-leg umpire, Rana had objected to Gatting waving his hand at another fielder while the bowler was running in. An fierce altercation followed, which led to a day being lost during the match and some long-lasting bad feeling between the teams. The issue forced the British Ambassador Sir Nicholas Barrington to get involved in order to de-escalate the situation and force an apology from the England captain.[8]

The stadium regularly hosted international matches until 2009, when all international cricket activities were suspended in Pakistan after 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team. The stadium, however, continued hosting domestic matches.

Domestic tournaments

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The stadium hosted the 2011 and 2015 editions of the Super 8 Twenty20 Cup.

In 2016, four new cricket pitches were added to take the total cricket pitches to nine.[9]

In September 2019, the Pakistan Cricket Board named it as one of the venues for matches in the 2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.[10]

The stadium hosted the finals of the National T20 Cup in 2019 and 2025.

In August 2024, it was announced that the stadium would host all the matches of newly formulated domestic 2024–25 Champions One-Day Cup.[11]

Return on international cricket

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In September 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board revealed plans to upgrade the stadium to enable international matches to be hosted there.[12]

On April 30 2025, it was announced that international cricket will return to Iqbal Stadium after a gap of 17 years, with Bangladesh touring Pakistan in May 2025. Iqbal Stadium will be hosting the first two T20Is on 25 May and 27 May respectively.[13]

Ground records

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Tests

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  • Highest innings total: 674/6 by Pakistan vs. India, October 1984.[14]
  • Lowest innings total: 53 all out by West Indies vs. Pakistan, October 1986.[14]
  • Highest individual score: 253 by Sanath Jayasuriya for Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan, October 2004.[15]
  • Best bowling figures (match): 12/130 (7/76 & 5/54) by Waqar Younis for Pakistan vs. New Zealand, October 1990.[16]

One-day internationals

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  • Highest innings total: 314/7 (50 overs) by Pakistan vs. New Zealand, December 2003.[17]
  • Highest individual score: 108 by Mohammad Yousuf for Pakistan vs. New Zealand, January 2008.[18]
  • Best bowling figures: 4/27 (4 overs) by Mudassar Nazar for Pakistan vs. New Zealand, November 1984.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Pakistan ground guide: Faisalabad". BBC News. 21 October 2005. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  2. ^ Rasool, Danyal (30 April 2025). "Pakistan vs Bangladesh T20Is: Faisalabad returns to calendar for five-match series in May | ESPNcricinfo". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  3. ^ Paracha, Nadeem F. (10 March 2017). "Stadium stories: Famous Pakistan cricket grounds". Dawn. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Iqbal Stadium Records and Stats | ESPNcricinfo". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Fog holds up play in Zimbabwe-Pakistan Test". ESPNcricinfo. 18 December 1998. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  6. ^ "PAK vs SA, South Africa tour of Pakistan 1997/98, 3rd Test at Faisalabad, October 24 - 27, 1997 - Full Scorecard". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  7. ^ "PAK vs SL Cricket Scorecard, 1st Test at Faisalabad, October 20 - 24, 2004". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  8. ^ "The Gatting-Rana fall-out: When a whole day of Test cricket was lost to a player-umpire argument". Wisden. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Renovated Iqbal Stadium to host Pakistan Cricket Cup". The News International. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  10. ^ "PCB releases Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2019-20 schedule". Pakistan Cricket Board. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  11. ^ "PCB announces Champions One-Day Cup schedule". Business Recorder. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  12. ^ "PCB plans to upgrade Faisalabad's Iqbal stadium for international matches". ARY News. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  13. ^ "Cricketing action returns to iconic venue in Pakistan's five-T20I series". International Cricket Council. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  14. ^ a b "PAK: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Cricket Ground Test match team highest innings totals | ESPNcricinfo". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  15. ^ "PAK: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Cricket Ground Test match batting most runs innings | ESPNcricinfo". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  16. ^ "PAK: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Cricket Ground Test match bowling best figures match | ESPNcricinfo". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  17. ^ "PAK: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Cricket Ground ODI match team highest innings totals | ESPNcricinfo". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  18. ^ "PAK: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Cricket Ground ODI match batting most runs innings | ESPNcricinfo". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  19. ^ "PAK: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Cricket Ground ODI match bowling best figures innings | ESPNcricinfo". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
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