Gaddafi Stadium

For the hockey stadium, see National Hockey Stadium, Lahore.
Gaddafi Stadium
قذافی اسٹیڈیم
Ground information
Location Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Coordinates 31°30′48″N 74°20′0″E / 31.51333°N 74.33333°ECoordinates: 31°30′48″N 74°20′0″E / 31.51333°N 74.33333°E
Establishment 1959
Capacity 60,400
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 v Australia
Last Test 1 – 2 Mar 2009: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
First ODI 13 Jan 1978: Pakistan v England
Last ODI 24 Jan 2009: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
As of 4 Mar 2009
Source: Cricinfo

Gaddafi Stadium (Urdu: قذافی اسٹیڈیم‎ / ALA-LC: Qaẕẕāfī Isṭeḍiyam) is a cricket ground in Lahore, Pakistan. It was designed by Daghestani-born architect and engineer Nasreddin Murat-Khan, who also designed Lahore's Minar-e-Pakistan, 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 with a capacity of 60,400 spectators.[1] It hosted the 1990 Hockey World Cup Final, where the hosts were defeated 3–1 by the Netherlands.

Ground history

Gaddafi Stadium at night

Originally Lahore Stadium, the facility was renamed in 1974 in honour of the former Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi following a speech he gave at the 2nd Organisation of the Islamic Conference meeting in Lahore in favour of Pakistan's right to pursue nuclear weapons.[2] The stadium houses the headquarters of the Pakistan 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 the Mughal 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.[3]

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.[4]

Cricket history

Three hat-tricks have been taken at the stadium, by Peter Petherick of New Zealand against Pakistan, 9 October 1976, Wasim Akram of Pakistan against Sri Lanka, 6 March 1999 and 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. The stadium hosted the final of the 1996 World Cup, which was watched by over 60,000 spectators.

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. Only neighbouring Afghanistan, which is facing its own Taliban insurgency, has visited the country in the interim, playing a short one-day series in 2011 and a Twenty20 against second-string team Pakistan A on 15 November 2014. (unofficial) [5] On 10 December 2014 Kenyan cricket team arrived in Lahore amid tight security, to play unofficial five one-day matches, becoming the first non-Asian visitors to militancy-wracked Pakistan for more than five years.[6][7][8][9][10]

Records

Test

One Day International

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Stadiums in Pakistan". World Stadiums. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  2. ↑ Murtaza Razvi (25 February 2011). "A stadium called Gaddafi". Indian Express. Retrieved 2011-03-24.
  3. ↑ McGlashan, Andrew. "Gaddafi Stadium". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  4. ↑ "Gaddafi prepares to end long hiatus". Dawn.com. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  5. ↑ http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/799487.html
  6. ↑ http://www.thefrontierpost.com/2014/12/kenyan-team-arrives-in-lahore-amid-high-security/
  7. ↑ http://www.nation.co.ke/sports/cricket/Kenyan-cricket-team-arrives-in-Pakistan-amidst-heavy-security/-/434908/2551612/-/tox4y2/-/index.html
  8. ↑ http://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/kenya-to-play-five-one-dayers-against-pakistan-a-.html
  9. ↑ http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/809003.html
  10. ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/804684/kenya-arrive-in-lahore-unfazed-by-security-concerns/

External links

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