 |
|
| Ground information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 31°30′48″N 74°20′0″ECoordinates: 31°30′48″N 74°20′0″E |
| Establishment | 1959 |
| Capacity | 27,000 |
| Owner | Pakistan Cricket Board |
| Operator | Lahore Regional Cricket Association |
| Tenants | Lahore cricket teams, Lahore Lions, Lahore Eagles Pakistan International Airlines, Pakistan |
| End names | |
| Pavilion End College End |
|
| International information | |
| First Test | 21 – 26 Nov 1959: Pakistan vAustralia |
| Last Test | 1 – 2 Mar 2009: Pakistan v Sri Lanka |
| First ODI | 13 Jan 1978: Pakistan v England |
| Last ODI | 31 May 2015: Pakistan v Zimbabwe |
| First T20I | 22 May 2015: Pakistan v Zimbabwe |
| Last T20I | 24 May 2015: Pakistan v Zimbabwe |
| As of 31 May 2015 Source: Cricinfo |
|
Gaddafi Stadium (Urdu: قذافی اسٹیڈیم / ALA-LC: Qaẕẕāfī Isṭeḍiyam) is acricket ground in Lahore, Pakistan. It was designed by famous architect and engineer Nasreddin Murat-Khan, and constructed by Mian Abdul Khaliq and Company in 1959. The ground was renovated for the 1996 Cricket World Cup when it hosted the final. It is also the largest cricket stadium in Pakistan and was the fifth largest in the world with a capacity of 60,000 spectators, until renovation brought down the capacity to 27,000.[1][2]
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Ground history[edit]
Originally Lahore Stadium, was renamed in 1974 in honour of the former Libyan leader ColonelMuammar Gaddafi following a speech he gave at the 2ndOrganisation of the Islamic Conference meeting in Lahore in favour of Pakistan's right to pursue nuclear weapons.[3] The stadium houses the headquarters of thePakistan Cricket Board.
In 1995–96, the Gaddafi Stadium was renovated by architect Nayyar Ali Dada for the 1996 Cricket World Cup. Dada's redesign was done in theMughal style, 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 was the first in Pakistan to be equipped with modern floodlights having their own standby power generators.[4]
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, "I don't think his profile is inspirational enough to link with our cricket stadium's identity." As of April 2012, however, it does not appear that the stadium's name will be changed after all.[5]
Cricket history[edit]
Three hat-tricks have been taken at the stadium, by Peter Petherick of New Zealandagainst Pakistan, 9 October 1976, Wasim Akram of Pakistan against Sri Lanka, 6 March 1999 and Mohammad Sami of Pakistan against Sri Lanka.[6]
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.[7]
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 marked the end of international cricket in Pakistan.
However, on 19 May 2015, the Zimbabwe cricket team landed at the Allama Iqbal International Airport to become the first Full Member nation to tour Pakistan since March 2009.[8
