Immerse yourself in the electric atmosphere of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, established on January 19, 1992, and the proud home of Islamabad United. Hosting Test, ODI, and T20 formats, it boasts a 15,000 spectator capacity and a rich legacy of cricketing battles.
Delve into its essence, from strategic location to legendary performances, and experience cricketing passion at its peak in Pakistan’s twin cities:
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – Home of Islamabad United
A die-hard cricket fan has always dreamt of supporting his favorite team and player on the cricket ground. Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is one of Pakistan’s oldest cricket grounds, built and inaugurated in 1992. It is completely built and owned by the Pakistan Cricket Board. It has almost all the modern facilities required to host any cricket.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 15,000 |
| Established | 1992 |
| Home Teams | Pakistan National Cricket Team, Islamabad United (PSL) |
| Floodlights | Yes |
| Location | Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Time Zone | UTC +05:00 |
PCB manages this stadium and is open to all cricket-related activities for practicing or conducting series or tournaments. Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium provides a beautiful view of experiencing cricket matches.
At the onset of PSL, this ground became the home ground of Islamabad United. PCB owns and manages this stadium and has prepared it for hosting matches of PSL.
History of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
- March 1965: The Rawalpindi Club Cricket Ground, predecessor to Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, hosts a Test match against New Zealand, marking an early chapter in Rawalpindi’s international cricket history.
- January 1992: The inauguration of ODI matches at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium occurs with a game between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, setting the stage for future one-day internationals.
- December 1993: Pakistan and Zimbabwe play the first Test match at the stadium, establishing its credentials as a venue for the longer format of the game.
- 1995-96 Cricket World Cup: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is highlighted as a premier venue, hosting several key matches and reinforcing its international stature.
- April 2018: PCB announces significant renovations for the stadium to modernize facilities and infrastructure, aiming to accommodate future international cricket and Pakistan Super League (PSL) fixtures, thereby ensuring compliance with international standards for player and spectator facilities.
- October 2019: The stadium welcomes back Test cricket after 15 years and international cricket after 13 years with the Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka series, signifying a momentous return of high-profile cricket to Pakistani soil.
- November 2020: Hosting its first T20I match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe, the stadium diversifies its portfolio of international cricket events.
- 2023: PCB plans and executes several PSL fixtures at the stadium, highlighting its ongoing role in nurturing and showcasing premier T20 cricket in Pakistan.
- Seating Capacity: With a capacity to host approximately 15,000 spectators would reach 28000 soon, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium stands as a vital cricketing venue in Pakistan, equipped to manage large crowds for various cricket formats.
Location
The stadium is just 20 minutes from Islamabad and is the only proper international stadium in the territory. Rawalpindi Stadium is situated near I-9 in Islamabad, and it connects both cities via Stadium Road. It can be accessed easily through any road leading to it on any vehicle type.
Some important landmarks near the ground are Pir Mehr Ali Shah University, Rawalpindi Arts Council, Wonderland Amusement Park, and E-Library Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, Shamshad Metro Station is around a 2-minute drive from the stadium.
Seating Capacity
The Rawalpindi cricket stadium can accommodate about 15,000 spectators, with 15,000 chairs installed in different enclosures. Some concrete benches still exist to host extra people during the match.
Boundary
The boundary at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium stretches between 60 and 80 meters, depending on the match format but generally, it is 70 to 75 meters. Test matches offer the most room for sixes (64-80m), while ODIs and T20Is have slightly shorter boundaries (59-75m).
Enclosures
There are eight enclosures in the stadium, one less than Multan Stadium, which are circular around the stadium. All these are named after some of the exceptional cricketers of Pakistan.
- Imran Khan Enclosure
- Shoaib Akhter Enclosure
- Sohail Tanveer Enclosure
- Javed Akhter Enclosure
- Azhar Mehmood Enclosure
- Miran Bakhsh Enclosure
- Yasir Arafat Enclosure
- Javed Miandad Enclosure
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – Pitch Report
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | Batting-friendly pitch, known for high scores |
| Spin | Less effective due to the flat surface |
| Seam | Can be effective early, especially under overcast conditions |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 250+ |
| Toss Advantage | Batting first slightly preferred |
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – Records and Stats
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is glorified with excellent records and stats in cricket history.
- First Test: Dec 9–14, 1993 – Pakistan v Zimbabwe
- First ODI: 19 Jan 1992 – Pakistan v Sri Lanka.
- First T20I: 7 Jan 2020 – Pakistan v Zimbabwe.
Tests
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Highest Team Total | 624/7d (Pakistan vs West Indies, 2017) |
| Lowest Team Total | 79 (Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 2012) |
| Highest Individual Score | 335* (Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2015) |
| Most Runs (Batsman) | Younis Khan (899 runs) |
| Most Wickets (Bowler) | Yasir Shah (49 wickets) |
| Best Bowling Figures | 10/74 (Nauman Ali, Pakistan vs South Africa, 2021) |
One Day Internationals
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Highest Team Total | 348/4 (Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2017) |
| Lowest Team Total | 104 (Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, 2020) |
| Highest Run Chase | 278/7 (Pakistan vs New Zealand, 2023) |
| Highest Individual Score | 141* (Babar Azam, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2017) |
| Most Runs (Batsman) | Babar Azam (695 runs) |
| Most Wickets (Bowler) | Mohammad Amir (22 wickets) |
| Best Bowling Figures | 5/29 (Hasan Ali, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2017) |
T20 Internationals
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Highest Team Total | 157/4 (Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, 2020) |
| Lowest Team Total | 129/9 (Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, 2020) |
| Highest Run Chase | 194/4 (New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2023) |
| Highest Individual Score | 82 (Babar Azam, Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, 2020) |
| Most Runs (Batsman) | Babar Azam (124 runs) |
| Most Wickets (Bowler) | Usman Qadir (4/13, Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, 2020) |
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – Tickets Price
Different matches have different ticket prices in this stadium. The same goes for the enclosure sitting. PCB has fixed ticket prices for PSL matches at PKR3,000 for a VIP enclosure, PKR2,500 for a premium enclosure, PKR2,000 for a first-class enclosure, and PKR1,000 for a first-class general enclosure.
Tickets Booking at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Ticket booking can be done online or by going to the stadium and buying from the administrators.
Here’s how you can book your tickets for the upcoming matches:
- Head to pcb.bookme.pk to see the upcoming matches.
- Select the match you want to book tickets for.
- A new screen will slide out from the ride side of the screen, showing the number of seats available in different enclosures.
- Once you select the enclosure, a new window will open where you can select the available seats.
- Click on the seat you want to book.
- Confirm your booking by clicking the “Book ME” button on the right.
- Enter your Name, Email address, Phone Number, and CNIC.
- Enter the OTP you received on your phone.
- Select your payment method and finalize the booking.
PSL in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
PCB has worked hard to bring international cricket to Pakistan. All the renovation and upgradation of stadiums have been done under the instructions of PCB to facilitate foreign players in Pakistan. Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is the oldest cricket stadium in Pakistan.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is the home ground of Islamabad United. At the onset of PSL, this stadium gained attention. In April 2018, PCB announced that this stadium and several others in the country would be renovated to prepare them for future international matches and fixtures in the Pakistan Super League.
| Category | Record | Player/Team | Year | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Team Total | 243/2 | Quetta Gladiators | 2023 | vs Peshawar Zalmi |
| Lowest Team Total | 107 | Islamabad United | 2023 | vs Lahore Qalandars |
| Highest Individual Score | 145* | Jason Roy (Quetta Gladiators) | 2023 | vs Peshawar Zalmi |
| Best Bowling Figures | 5/20 | Mohammad Amir (Karachi Kings) | 2017 | vs Quetta Gladiators |
| Highest Winning Margin | 119 Runs | Lahore Qalandars | 2023 | vs Islamabad United |
| Most Runs | Babar Azam | 672 Runs | – | – |
| Most Sixes | Colin Ingram | 82 Sixes | – | – |
| Most Wickets | Shaheen Afridi | 32 Wickets | – | – |
| Most Wins (Team) | Islamabad United | 15 Wins | – | – |
| Most Catches | Asif Ali | 32 Catches | – | – |
| Fastest Fifty | Chris Gayle | 18 Balls | (Lahore Qalandars) | 2016 |
| Highest Partnership | Babar Azam & Sharjeel Khan | 194 Runs | (Islamabad United) | 2020 |
When will Rafi Cricket Stadium be completed?
Initial projections aimed to finish Rafi Cricket Stadium by 2023, but due to delays from the Covid-19 pandemic among other factors, completion now targets July 2024. Recent advancements in precast yard elements, along with electrical and plumbing installations, signal its approach to completion. Although no official opening date is set, the progress aligns with a July 2024 completion, reflecting the latest realistic expectation based on current developments.
What is Wrong with Rawalpindi’s Stadium Pitch?
The pitch of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is beneficial for spin bowlers, unlike the Lahore Stadium pitch, especially early in the match. The pitch displays little or no seam movement or turn at any stage in the match, with no significant bounce or carry, depriving the bowlers of a fair contest between bat and ball.
Summary
Pakistan’s dedication to cricket is evident in the iconic Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. With a 15,000-seat(28000 soon) capacity and a history rich in international cricket. The stadium is a key player in Pakistan’s cricketing future, highlighting the country’s enthusiasm and commitment to the game.
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