Do you want to have a lifetime experience witnessing a cricket match? Then go to the stadium and witness the electrifying crowd cheering for their favorite team. For a cricket enthusiast, visiting the stadium is refreshing and patriotic. Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Facts And Records, Stats, Pitch Report is an outstanding addition to the list of cricket stadiums in Pakistan.
Established on January 19, 1992, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium serves the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in Pakistan. It has hosted many cricket matches, including Test, ODI, and T20 matches, and welcomed many great players on its battlefield. Now, it is the home ground of Islamabad United.
This guide explores the Rawalpindi cricket stadium, history, location, facts, sitting capacity, pitch report, and stats.
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.
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 8 matches of PSL 2023.
History of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
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 sports venue in the 1995–96 Cricket World Cup. In April 2018, PCB announced that the venue and several others in the country would get a makeover to prepare them for future international matches and fixtures in the Pakistan Super League.
In October 2019, the PCB proposed conducting the two Test matches of Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, At the National Stadium Karachi and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadiums in Pakistan instead of the UAE. It was the first test match played at this venue after 15 years and the first International match after 13 years.
In 2023, PCB has planned to host PSL teams and various matches on this cricket ground.
Many International and domestic matches and the Pakistan Super League PSL matches have already been played here.
- The first test match was played between Pakistan and Zimbabwe in December 1993.
- The first ODI match was played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in January 1992.
- 1st T20I match was played between Pakistan and Zimbabwe in November 2020.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – 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.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – Seating Capacity
The Rawalpindi cricket stadium can accommodate about 18,000 spectators, with 15,000 chairs installed in different enclosures. Some concrete benches still exist to host extra people during the match.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – 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
What is wrong with Rawalpindi’s pitch? The pitch is favorable for spin bowlers, especially early in the match. The pitch provides 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.
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
| Record | Runs | Team/player | Opposition | Date |
| Highest team total | 675/5d | India | Pakistan | 29 March 2004 |
| Lowest team total | 139/10 | West Indies | Pakistan | 29 November 1997 |
| Highest individual score | 309 | Virender Sehwag | Pakistan | 29 March 2004 |
| Highest partnership | 323 | Aamer Sohail & Inzamam-ul-Haq | West Indies | 29 November 1997 |
One Day Internationals
| Records | Total Runs | Team or Player | Against | Date |
| Highest team total | 349/6 | India | Pakistan | 13 April 2004 |
| Lowest team total at the ground | 104/10 | Zimbabwe | Sri Lanka | 29 November 1997 |
| Highest individual score | 188* | Gary Kirsten | United Arab Emirates | 13 April 2004 |
| Highest partnership | 204 | Inzamam-ul-Haq | Sri Lanka | 19 November 1992 |
T20 Internationals
| Record Made | Runs | Team or Player | Opposition | Date |
| Highest team total | 157/4 | Pakistan | Zimbabwe | 7 November 2020 |
| Lowest team total | 134/7 | Zimbabwe | Pakistan | 8 November 2020 |
| Highest individual score | 82 | Babar Azam | Zimbabwe | 7 November 2020 |
| Highest partnership | 100 | Babar Azam & Haider Ali | Zimbabwe | 8 November 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.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – Tickets Booking
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.
In the schedule of PSL 2023, PCB has announced that eight matches of the tournament will be conducted in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Rafi cricket stadium be completed?
Rafi Cricket Stadium is situated in Bahria Town, Rawalpindi. It is still under construction and will be completed by 2023. Cricket fans are also enthusiastic to witness domestic and international matches here.
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 is struggling hard to maintain cricket in Pakistan, conducting domestic and international matches in the stadium, and has succeeded perfectly. Stadiums always represent a country’s passion for a particular sport, and the establishment of numerous stadiums is proof of that. Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is one of the oldest and finest stadiums in Pakistan. PCB has planned to hold several tournaments in this stadium in the future. This article explores Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, location, audience capacity, stats, pitch report, and more.