Gaddafi Stadium

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For the hockey stadium, see National Hockey Stadium, Lahore.

Gaddafi Stadium
Panorama of the stadium in 2015
Ground information
LocationLahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Coordinates31°30′48″N 74°20′0″E / 31.51333°N 74.33333°E / 31.51333; 74.33333
Establishment1959; 65 years ago (1959)
OwnerPakistan Cricket Board
TenantsPakistan national cricket team
Central Punjab cricket team
Lahore Qalandars
End names
Pavilion End
Forman Christian College End
International information
First Test21–26 November 1959:
 Pakistan v  Australia
Last Test21–25 March 2022:
 Pakistan v  Australia
First ODI13 January 1978:
 Pakistan v  England
Last ODI6 September 2023:
 Pakistan v  Bangladesh
First T20I22 May 2015:
 Pakistan v  Zimbabwe
Last T20I27 April 2024:
 Pakistan v  New Zealand
First WODI2 November 2019:
 Pakistan v  Bangladesh
Last WODI9 November 2022:
 Pakistan v  Ireland
First WT20I26 October 2019:
 Pakistan v  Bangladesh
Last WT20I16 November 2022:
 Pakistan v  Ireland
As of 27 April 2024
Source: ESPNcricinfo
Outside view of the Gaddafi Stadium.

Gaddafi Stadium (Punjabi, Urdu: قذافی اسٹیڈیم, romanized: Qaẕẕāfī Isṭeḍiyam), previously known as Lahore Stadium, is a cricket stadium in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, owned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).[1] With a capacity of 27,000, it is the fourth largest cricket stadium of Pakistan. It is the home ground of Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League.[2][3] Gaddafi Stadium was the first cricket stadium in Pakistan to be equipped with modern floodlights with their own standby power generators.[4] The headquarters of the Pakistan Cricket Board are situated at Gaddafi Stadium, thus making it the home of the Pakistan national cricket team.[5]

The stadium was designed by Russian-born Pakistani architect and civil engineer Nasreddin Murat-Khan, and constructed by Mian Abdul Khaliq and Company in 1959. The stadium was renovated for the 1996 Cricket World Cup when it hosted the final.[6]

In addition to Pakistan home games and international matches, the Gaddafi Stadium has also hosted several matches of the Pakistan Super League, with the first one being the final of the 2017 edition.[7][8] In March 2022, the PCB began the process to rename the stadium for sponsorship reasons.[9] In June 2024, PCB announced that the Gaddafi Stadium will be upgraded for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.[10][11]

History

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Construction

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The 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.[12] It was originally established as the Lahore Stadium.[13]

Renaming stadium

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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.[14][15] On 23 October 2011, the Pakistan Cricket Board discussed renaming the stadium following the death of Gaddafi, to support the new government in Libya. The Punjab Olympic Association made a similar request in late October 2011 to the provincial chief minister. The association's secretary Idrees Haider Khawaja said, "I don't think his profile is inspirational enough to link with our cricket stadium's identity."[13] However, the stadium's name was not changed.[16]

Redesigned

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In 1995–96, the Gaddafi Stadium was renovated by architect Nayyar Ali Dada, who was qualified from National College of Arts, for the 1996 Cricket World Cup.[5] Dada's redesign was done with red, hand-laid brickwork and arches. Dada also had plastic seating installed in place of the existing concrete benches. The lower portion under the stands was enclosed and converted to shops for boutiques and offices. Gaddafi Stadium, being the largest cricket stadium in Pakistan, used to have capacity of 65,250 spectators, until the redesigning of its enclosures reduced the capacity to 27,000.[17]

Ongoing renovation efforts

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In June 2024, PCB announced that Gaddafi Stadium will be upgraded for the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.[18] Construction work began in late August 2024 with the demolition of two general enclosures and the main pavilion/PCB office building.[19] The renovation plan includes: construction of a new pavilion building and a separate building for PCB offices, re-profiling of all general enclosures with stands being brought closer by 20 feet to the playing area, removal of the fencing around the stands in favour of a “moat”, increasing the seating capacity from 21,500 to 34,000 spectators, installation of new “replay screens”, and installation of new LED floodlights.[10][20] The project is said to be completed by 31 December 2024.[10]

Cricket history

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International cricket history

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In both 1968 and 1977, Test matches played against England were affected by riots.[5]

In 1976 the first of three hat-tricks was taken at the stadium, by Peter Petherick of New Zealand against Pakistan on 9 October. The next was taken by Wasim Akram of Pakistan against Sri Lanka, 6 March 1999, and the third by Mohammad Sami of Pakistan against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan has enjoyed some memorable moments on the ground, including a fifth-wicket stand of 281 between Javed Miandad and Asif Iqbal against New Zealand in 1976 and an innings and 324 run win against New Zealand in 2002.[6]

2009 Sri Lankan team attack

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On 3 March 2009, the scheduled third day of second Test of 2008–09 Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan, the Sri Lankan team's convoy was attacked by armed militants at Liberty Roundabout, near Gaddafi Stadium. Eight Sri Lankan players were injured, including Sri Lankan captain, Mahela Jayawardene. The Sri Lankan team was air-lifted from Gaddafi Stadium to a nearby airbase, from where they were evacuated back to Sri Lanka. This event brought a halt to international cricket in Pakistan.[5]

Return of international cricket

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International cricket returned to Pakistan on 19 May 2015, when the Zimbabwe cricket team landed at the Allama Iqbal International Airport to become the first Full Member nation to tour Pakistan since the attack.[21] Pakistan won both ODI and T20I series comfortably.[22]

In August 2017, PCB along with ICC started to improve international cricket in Pakistan. With that, under heavy security, PCB planned World XI tour to Pakistan for three T20Is.[23][24]

In August 2017, Thilanga Sumathipala, president of Sri Lanka Cricket, said that he would like to play at least one of the three T20I matches in Lahore, Pakistan during October.[25][26][27] In March 2009, the Sri Lanka cricket team were attacked by terrorists while travelling to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Since then, the only Test side to visit Pakistan has been Zimbabwe, when they toured during May 2015.[25] Two of Sri Lanka's current team, Chamara Kapugedera and Suranga Lakmal were on the bus during the 2009 terrorist attack, and both could have been selected for the T20I squad for this series.[28]

In September 2017, the fixtures were confirmed, with the final T20I match of the series scheduled to be played in Lahore.[29] Sri Lanka Cricket said that players have a "contractual obligation" to play the match in Lahore, but it was unlikely to issue penalties to any player who chose not to visit Pakistan.[28] However, on 14 October 2017, the Sri Lankan team expressed their reluctance to travel to Pakistan, requesting that the fixture is moved to a neutral venue.[30] On 16 October 2017, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that the fixture in Lahore would go ahead as planned, but their limited-overs captain, Upul Tharanga, had pulled out of the match.[31] Despite the concerns from the players, team manager Asanka Gurusinha felt that a competitive squad would be named.[32] On 19 October 2017, Sri Lanka's chief selector, Graham Labrooy, said that players who do not travel to Lahore would be unlikely to be selected for the other two T20I fixtures.[33] The squad for the T20I fixtures was named two days later, with Thisara Perera selected as captain.[34]

The Sri Lankan squad arrived in Lahore under "extraordinary" security and made their way to the team's hotel in a bomb-proof bus.[35] Ahead of the T20I in Lahore, Cricket Sri Lanka's president Thilanga Sumathipala said that the team was privileged to be in Pakistan and that he would help support the country in hosting more tours.[36] Najam Sethi, chairman of the PCB, said that this fixture would be the start of international cricket returning to the country, with him expecting every country to play in Pakistan by the end of 2020.[37] Pakistan went on to win the T20I series 3–0.[38]

A T20I match scheduled to be played against Bangladesh on 27 January 2020 at the Gaddafi stadium was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to heavy rain.[39]

The venue also hosted three main matches as a part of the 2018 Blind Cricket World Cup.[40][41]

Domestic cricket history

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On 5 March 2017, the final of the 2017 Pakistan Super League was played in the stadium, the first time a PSL fixture was being played in Pakistan.[7][8] After the success of holding the final, the Pakistan Cricket Board decided to play two games of the 2018 Pakistan Super League in Pakistan.[42] In September 2019, the Pakistan Cricket Board named it as one of the venues to host matches in the 2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.[43]

A panorama of the Gaddafi Stadium at night

Records

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Test

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One Day International

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T20 International

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Cricket World Cup

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This stadium hosted six One Day International (ODI) matches during 1987 Cricket World Cup and 1996 Cricket World Cup, including the final between Sri Lanka and Australia.

1987 Cricket World Cup

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16 October 1987
Scorecard
West Indies 
216 (50 overs)
v
 Pakistan
217/9 (50 overs)
4 November 1987
Scorecard
Australia 
267/6 (50 overs)
v
 Pakistan
249 (49.2 overs)

1996 Cricket World Cup

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26 February
Scorecard
Netherlands 
145/7 (50 overs)
v
 Pakistan
151/2 (30.4 overs)
Flavian Aponso 58
Waqar Younis 4/26 (10 Overs)
Saeed Anwar 83*
Peter Cantrell 1/18 (4 overs)
Pakistan won by 8 wickets
Umpires: K.T. Francis and Steve Bucknor
Player of the match: Waqar Younis (Pak)
1 March
Scorecard
Netherlands 
216/9 (50 overs)
v
 United Arab Emirates
220/3 (44.2 overs)
Peter Cantrell 47 (106)
Shaukat Dukanwala 5/29 (10 overs)
Saleem Raza 84 (68)
Roland Lefebvre 1/24 (8 overs)
United Arab Emirates won by 7 wickets
Umpires: Mahboob Shah and Steve Randell
Player of the match: Shaukat Dukanwala (UAE)
  • This was the first ever official ODI between two ICC Associate teams.
6 March
Scorecard
Pakistan 
281/5 (50 overs)
v
 New Zealand
235 (47.3 overs)
Saeed Anwar 62 (67)
Robert Kennedy 1/32 (5 overs)
Stephen Fleming 42 (43)
Mushtaq Ahmed 2/32 (10 overs)
Pakistan won by 46 runs
Umpires: K.T. Francis and Ian Robinson
Player of the match: Saleem Malik (Pak)

1996 Cricket World Cup final

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17 March
Scorecard
Australia 
241/7 (50 overs)
v
 Sri Lanka
245/3 (46.2 overs)
Mark Taylor 74 (83)
Aravinda de Silva 3/42 (9 overs)
Aravinda de Silva 107 (124)
Damien Fleming 1/43 (6 overs)
Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets
Umpires: Steve Bucknor and David Shepherd
Player of the match: Aravinda de Silva (SL)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "PCB team to visit Bugti Stadium next week". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  2. ^ "COUNTDOWN BEGIN: AROUND 27,000 FANS ARE READY TO THRONG 'GADDAFI STADIUM'". Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  3. ^ Yaqoob, Mohammad (24 May 2015). "Malik, Bilawal likely to be dropped for second T20". Dawn. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  4. ^ McGlashan, Andrew. "Gaddafi Stadium. Pakistan. Cricket Grounds". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d Paracha, Nadeem F. (10 March 2017). "Stadium stories: Famous Pakistan cricket grounds". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Gaddafi Stadium – Pakistan – Cricket Grounds – ESPNcricinfo". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  7. ^ a b "PSL in pictures: cricket comes home to Lahore". Dawn. Pakistan. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b "PSL 2017 final showdown: 'Will not bow our heads before anyone,' says Sethi at ceremony". Dawn. Pakistan. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  9. ^ Rasool, Danyal (15 March 2022). "Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium set to be rechristened with new sponsor's name". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "Gaddafi Stadium transformation in full swing". www.pcb.com.pk. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Chairman PCB visits Gaddafi Stadium to review upgradation work". www.pcb.com.pk. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  12. ^ Parvez, Salim; January 2020, Cricket World Thursday 23. "Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore – A Historic Perspective". Cricket World.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ a b Farooq, Umar (25 February 2013). "Gaddafi set for name change?". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  14. ^ Murtaza Razvi (25 February 2011). "A stadium called Gaddafi". Indian Express (newspaper). Archived from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Lahore stadium named after Libyan President". Dawn, Karachi. 20 March 1972. p. Front Page.
  16. ^ "Gaddafi prepares to end long hiatus". Dawn. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  17. ^ "PSL final tickets on sale from today". The News International. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  18. ^ "Chairman PCB visits Gaddafi Stadium to review upgradation work". www.pcb.com.pk. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  19. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports (20 August 2024). "Stadiums for ICC Champions Trophy to be renovated within five months, says Mohsin". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  20. ^ Pakistan Cricket (30 October 2024). PCB conducted a detailed media walkthrough of the ongoing Gaddafi Stadium upgradation | PCB | MA2A. Retrieved 10 November 2024 – via YouTube.
  21. ^ Farooq, Umar (19 May 2015). "Zimbabwe team arrives in Lahore". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Zimbabwe tour of Pakistan – Cricket Schedules, Updates, Results". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Du Plessis to captain World XI against Pakistan in Independence Cup". Pakistan Cricket Board. 24 August 2017. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  24. ^ Farooq, Umar (21 August 2017). "Pakistan to host World XI series in September". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  25. ^ a b "Sri Lanka 'keen' to visit Pakistan for T20s in September". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  26. ^ "Sumathipala calls on Asian cricket chiefs to stand together for cricket -says Sri Lanka will travel to Pakistan later this year". Sri Lanka Cricket. Archived from the original on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  27. ^ "West Indies, Sri Lanka to tour Pakistan following World XI visit in September". The Field. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  28. ^ a b "SLC will address player security concerns – board CEO". Sri Lanka Cricket. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  29. ^ "Sri Lanka tour to Pakistan Tour Itinerary announced". Pakistan Cricket Board. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  30. ^ "Sri Lanka's players reluctant to visit Pakistan". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  31. ^ "Sri Lanka agree to play T20I in Lahore". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  32. ^ "'Positive feedback' from players on Lahore T20, says SL manager". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  33. ^ "SL players who refuse Lahore leg likely to miss full T20 series". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  34. ^ "Thisara Perera to captain Sri Lanka in Lahore". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  35. ^ "SL team surrounded by 'extraordinary' security arrangements in Lahore". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  36. ^ "'We are happy and privileged to be here' – SLC president". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  37. ^ "PCB chairman expects major cricket nations to resume touring Pakistan". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  38. ^ "Pakistan cruise to win on Lahore's big night". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  39. ^ Rasool, Danyal (27 January 2020). "Rain forces abandonment, Pakistan take series 2–0". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  40. ^ "Blind Cricket World Cup 2018 Live Streaming". Awami Web. 10 January 2018. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  41. ^ "Blind Cricket World Cup begins in Lahore on Monday – Samaa TV". samaa.tv. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  42. ^ "Pakistan to host 3 PSL games next year". The News International. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  43. ^ "PCB releases Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2019–20 schedule". Pakistan Cricket Board. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  44. ^ "Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Cricket Team Records & Stats". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  45. ^ "Team records. Test matches". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  46. ^ "Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Cricket Team Records & Stats". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  47. ^ "Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Cricket Team Records & Stats". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  48. ^ "Team records. One-Day Internationals". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  49. ^ "Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Cricket Team Records & Stats". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  50. ^ "Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Cricket Team Records & Stats". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  51. ^ "Team records. Twenty20 Internationals". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  52. ^ "Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Cricket Team Records & Stats". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
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