Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium


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 and has an estimated capacity of 15,000. The first international match at the stadium was played on 19 January 1992, when Sri Lanka faced Pakistan in an ODI. The stadium hosted its first Test match in 1993, when Zimbabwe toured Pakistan.
Test cricket returned to Pakistan during the 2019 two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The first test match was held from 11–15 December 2019 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

History

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was established in 1992 and replaced Pindi Club Ground as an international stadium.
It is the home ground of Islamabad United and Northern cricket team. 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.
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 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.
This stadium was the home ground and international debut ground of the world's fastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar who is nicknamed the 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 in this ground.

Return of international cricket

In April 2018, the Pakistan Cricket Board 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.

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. Sri Lanka Cricket said that they were "very positive" with regards to the progress of playing Test cricket in Pakistan. 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. It was the first test match played at this venue after 15 years and first International match after 13 years.

2024–25 renovation

In preparation for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Cricket Board renovates the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium to meet international standards. Initially budgeted at PKR 1.5 billion, costs rose to PKR 18 billion due to additional upgrades across multiple venues like Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore and National Stadium, Karachi. The refurbishment includes an upgraded main pavilion and media boxes, new seating, 350 LED floodlights, and improved hospitality boxes. Despite concerns about delays, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has assured timely completion. The stadium hosts three group-stage matches, featuring teams like Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.
On 8 May 2025 during the 2025 India–Pakistan strikes, a drone from India landed inside the stadium complex before the start of a Pakistan Super League Twenty20 match, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board to transfer the games to the United Arab Emirates.

Cricket World Cup

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

1996 Cricket World Cup

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ICC Champions Trophy

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Records

List of five wicket hauls

Tests

23 five-wicket hauls have been taken in Test matches at the ground.
No.BowlerDateTeamOpposing teamInnOversRunsWktsResult
1Waqar Younis9 12 1993219885Pakistan won
2Heath Streak9 12 19933565Pakistan won
3Wasim Akram9 12 19934655Pakistan won
4Mushtaq Ahmed28 11 1996130876Pakistan won
5Chris Cairns28 11 199621375Pakistan won
6Mohammad Zahid28 11 1996320667Pakistan won
7Saqlain Mushtaq6 10 19972621295Drawn
8Courtney Walsh29 11 199721435Pakistan won
9Stuart MacGill1 10 1998122865Australia won
10Anrich Nortje4 2 20211565Pakistan won
11Hasan Ali4 2 20212545Pakistan won
12George Linde4 2 2021326645Pakistan won
13Hasan Ali4 2 2021416605Pakistan won
14Noman Ali4 3 202221076Drawn
15Will Jacks01 12 202221616England won
16Mehidy Hasan Miraz30 08 20241615Bangladesh won
17Khurram Shahzad30 08 2024221906Bangladesh won
18Hasan Mahmud30 08 20243435Bangladesh won
19Sajid Khan24 10 202411286Pakistan won
20Noman Ali24 10 20243426Pakistan won
21Keshav Maharaj20 10 202511027South Africa won
22Asif Afridi20 10 20252796South Africa won
23Simon Harmer20 10 2025320506South Africa won

One Day Internationals

Five five-wicket hauls have been taken in One Day Internationals at the ground.
No.BowlerDateTeamOpposing teamInnOversRunsWktsEconResult
1Saqlain Mushtaq30 10 200018205Pakistan won
2Shaheen Afridi30 10 2020210495Pakistan won
3Iftikhar Ahmed1 11 2020110405Pakistan won
4Mohammad Hasnain3 11 2020110265Tied
5Blessing Muzarabani3 11 2020210495Tied