National Stadium, Karachi
The National Stadium (Urdu: نیشنل اسٹڈیم; Sindhi: قومي اسٽيڊيم) is a cricket stadium in Karachi, Pakistan, owned by the Pakistan Cricket Board.[2] It is the home ground of Karachi Kings and Karachi's many other domestic cricket teams.[3] It is the largest cricket stadium in Pakistan with a capacity of 34,228 spectators.[4]
| NSK | |
 National Stadium, Karachi | |
| Ground information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 24°53′46″N 67°4′53″E |
| Establishment | 21 April 1955 |
| Capacity | 34,228[1] |
| Owner | Pakistan Cricket Board |
| Operator | Sindh Cricket Association |
| Tenants | Pakistan national cricket team Sindh cricket team Karachi Kings |
| End names | |
| Pavilion End University End | |
| International information | |
| First Test | 26 February – 1 March 1956: Pakistan v  India |
| Last Test | 26–30 January 2021: Pakistan v  South Africa |
| First ODI | 21 November 1980: Pakistan v  Sri Lanka |
| Last ODI | 2 October 2019: Pakistan v Sri Lanka |
| First T20I | 20 April 2008: Pakistan v  Bangladesh |
| Last T20I | 3 April 2018: Pakistan v  West Indies |
| Only women's Test | 15–19 March 2004: Pakistan v West Indies |
| First WODI | 9 April 2001: Pakistan v  Netherlands |
| Last WODI | 26 October 2008: Pakistan v West Indies |
| First WT20I | 28 October 2008: Pakistan v West Indies |
| Last WT20I | 31 October 2008: Pakistan v West Indies |
| As of 26 January 2021 Source: Cricinfo | |
The Pakistani cricket team have a remarkable Test record at the ground, having only lost twice in 40 Test matches[5] (vs. England, December 2000–01, and South Africa, October 2007–08). The stadium has witnessed several memorable moments, such as Viv Richards 181 against Sri Lanka at the 1987 Cricket World Cup, Mohammad Yousuf's record ninth century of the year to break Viv Richards' record of most runs in a calendar year, and Kamran Akmal's famous century against India on a very difficult pitch in 2006, after Pakistan had collapsed to 39 for 6, as part of a memorable come-from-behind victory.
History
The stadium was established in April 1955. At that time, Karachi was the capital of Pakistan, but the only cricket ground was the one at the Karachi Gymkhana which had limited seating capacity.[6] A plan was formulated to develop a new stadium for which a plot of land measuring 174.5 acres was acquired by the Pakistan Public Works Department through the Commissioner of Karachi.[6] After which under the guidance of Mr. Kafiluddin Ahmed, a senior civil engineer from East Pakistan, the stadium was built which became Karachi's fifth and Pakistan's 11th first-class ground.[6]
The inaugural first-class match was played at NSK between Pakistan and India on 20–24 April 1955, and it became a fortress of Pakistan cricket.[5] In 34 Tests between that first match and December 2000, Pakistan won 17 and were never beaten. Their only Test defeat on the ground came in the gloom against England in 2000–01.
The first ODI at the National Stadium was against West Indies on 21 November 1980, and it went down to the last ball as Gordon Greenidge drove Imran Khan imperiously to the cover boundary with three needed. It has been a far less successful limited-overs venue, with defeats outnumbering victories. In fact, in a little under five years from the start of 1996, Pakistan failed to win on the ground. It also staged a quarter-final match in the 1996–97 World Cup.
Sachin Tendulkar and Waqar Younis played their first test match in this stadium.
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.[7]
Records
Test
- Highest Team Total:765/6d, by Pakistan against Sri Lanka in 2009.
- Lowest Team Total: 80, by Australia against Pakistan in 1956.
- Highest Run Chase Achieved: 315/9, by Pakistan against Australia in 1994–95.
- Highest Individual Score: 313, by Younis Khan against Sri Lanka in 2009.
- Highest partnership: 437, by Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera against Pakistan in 2009.
One Day International
- Highest team total: 374/4, by India against Hong Kong, 25 June 2008 (Asia Cup)
- Highest Run Chase (Won or Loss) 288/5 by Pakistan against India, 13 March 2004.
- Lowest team total: 115, by Bangladesh against Pakistan, 4 July 2008.
- Highest Run Chase Achieved: 310/4, by India against Sri Lanka, 3 July 2008.
- Highest individual score: 181, by Viv Richards against Sri Lanka, 13 October 1987.
- Highest partnership: 201, by Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara against Bangladesh, 30 June 2008.
T20 International
- Highest team total: 205/3 by Pakistan against West Indies, 2 April 2018
- Lowest team total: 60/9, by West Indies against Pakistan, 1 April 2018
- Highest individual score: 97*, by Babar Azam against West Indies , 2 April 2018.
- Highest partnership: 119, by Babar Azam and Hussain Talat against West Indies, 2 April 2018.
Cricket World Cup
Return of Cricket 2018
PCB ex-chairman Najam Sethi had announced in 2017 that Karachi's National Stadium will host the final match of 2018 Pakistan Super League in March 2018. The condition of the stadium was improved for the final. The historic match, which was played between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi saw the return of international stars to National Stadium after a gap of nine years, ended up being relatively one-sided, as the champions of first edition Islamabad United were crowned champions once again. The event at the stadium was the first major event since 2009 in the port city and it was highly welcomed by crowds and the stadium witnessed packed house for the big game. In order to make it a successful event many security forces were deployed in and around the stadium to maintain the law and order situation, by there efforts the event was held successfully. In 2017 PCB Chairman had announced that West Indies would tour Pakistan for 3 match T20I series which were scheduled to be played in Lahore, the fixtures were to be played in November 2017. However, early in November 2017, reports announced that the West Indies team would not be travelling to Pakistan over security concerns. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi stated that the original schedule was changed due to unforeseen weather, logistic issues and challenges with security. In March 2018, the PCB confirmed that the fixtures would take place in April at the National Stadium in Karachi after the conclusion of PSL 2018. The last time an international cricket match was played at the venue in Karachi was in February 2009, when Sri Lanka toured Pakistan. That series was cut short, following an 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team.
It was the first tour in Pakistan of more than one match against another Test nation since Zimbabwe toured in May 2015.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan
In May 2019, at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Singapore, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made a request to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to play the two Test matches in Pakistan.[8] In July 2019, the SLC sent a security expert to assess the situation in Pakistan,[9] with Sri Lanka Cricket saying they were "likely" to play a Test match in the country.[10] A further decision was taken by Sri Lanka after a security delegation inspects venues in Lahore and Karachi in early August 2019.[11][12] The delegation gave Sri Lanka Cricket "very positive feedback", suggesting that Sri Lanka could be open to playing a Test match in Pakistan.[13] On 22 August 2019, Sri Lanka's Sports Minister confirmed their agreement to play a three-match ODI and T20I series in Pakistan in October, but ruled out playing any Test matches.[14][15] On 23 August, PCB announced dates for the ODI and T20I series. Sri Lanka were to play three match ODI series at National Stadium, starting from 27 September.[16] This was supposed be the first time since 21 January 2009 that an ODI match will be held at National Stadium. But, the first ODI match was abandoned due to heavy rain.[17] It was the first time that an ODI match at the venue had been washed out.[18] As a result, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rescheduled the second ODI match, moving it back one day to 30 September 2019, to allow the groundstaff more time to prepare the outfield. As a result, National Stadium had to wait for few more days to host an ODI match.[19]
In October 2019, the PCB proposed hosting the two Test matches in Pakistan, instead of the UAE, at venues in Rawalpindi and Karachi.[20] Sri Lanka Cricket said that they were "very positive" with regards to the progress of playing Test cricket in Pakistan.[21] In November 2019, the PCB confirmed the dates and venues for the Test series. National Stadium hosted the second test match, starting from 19 December.[22]
See also
- List of Test cricket grounds
- List of international cricket centuries at the National Stadium
- List of international five-wicket hauls at the National Stadium
- List of stadiums by capacity
- List of stadiums in Pakistan
- List of cricket grounds in Pakistan
- List of sports venues in Karachi
- List of sports venues in Lahore
- List of sports venues in Faisalabad
References
- "World Stadiums - Stadiums in Pakistan". www.worldstadiums.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
- "PCB team to visit Bugti Stadium next week". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
- "PSL 2020 Live Streaming, Schedule, Results, & Highlights Videos". PSL 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- "Football stadiums of the world – Stadiums in Asia | Football stadiums of the world". www.fussballtempel.net (in German). Retrieved 23 February 2018.
- "Stadium stories: Famous Pakistan cricket grounds". Dawn. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- "National Stadium Karachi – the fortress of Pakistan cricket | Sports | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk.
- "PCB releases Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2019-20 schedule". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
- "PCB makes contact with Sri Lanka with a view to moving Test series to Pakistan". Dawn. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- "Sri Lanka Cricket considers touring Pakistan, security expert to be sent to assess situation". Island Cricket. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- "Sri Lanka likely to play Test in Pakistan: Reports". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- "Sri Lankan security delegation to decide on Test series in Pakistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
- "Sri Lanka Cricket security delegation to visit Pakistan this week". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
- "Sri Lanka mull playing Test cricket in Pakistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- "Sri Lanka will tour Pakistan after two-year gap to play ODIs and T20Is, informs SL sports minister". Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- "Sri Lanka to play ODIs in Pakistan". The Papare. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
- "Pakistan announces dates for upcoming ODI, T20I series against Sri Lanka at home". GEO Tv. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
- "Rain ruins tour opener in Karachi". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
- "ODI cricket's return to Pakistan ruined by rain". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
- "Second ODI rescheduled for Monday". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
- "PCB propose Rawalpindi and Karachi as venues for Sri Lanka Test series". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- "SLC 'very positive' about touring Pakistan in December". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- "Pakistan to play Sri Lanka Tests in front of home crowds". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 14 November 2019.