Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is a cricket stadium located in Rawalpindi, Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located close to Pir Meher Ali Shah University and Rawalpindi Arts Council and has an estimated capacity of 15,000. The first international match at the stadium was played on 19 January 1992, when Sri Lanka faced Pakistan in an ODI. The stadium hosted its first Test match in 1993, when Zimbabwe toured Pakistan.
Test cricket returned to Pakistan during the 2019 two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The first test match was held from 11–15 December 2019 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
History Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was established in 1992 and replaced Pindi Club Ground as an international stadium.
It is the home ground of Rawalpindiz, Islamabad United and Northern cricket team. 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 spot in the 1995–96 Cricket World Cup. With an eye on the that World Cup, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled a new Test venue for the second Test against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi, becoming the country's 14th Test ground. The floodlights were added in late 2001 when the Australians were set to tour the region. The stadium is just 20 minutes from the capital Islamabad.
This stadium was the home ground and international debut ground of the world's fastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar who is nicknamed the Rawalpindi Express.
In the 2nd ODI of 2004 Samsung ODI series, while other Indian batters are getting struggling with the pace and spin attack of Pakistan, Sachin Tendulkar played a courageous knock of 141 (135) in this ground.
Return of international cricket In April 2018, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the venue, along with several others in the country, would get a makeover to get them ready for future international matches and fixtures in the Pakistan Super League.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test match In October 2019, the PCB proposed hosting the two Test matches in Pakistan, instead of the UAE, at venues in Rawalpindi and Karachi. Sri Lanka Cricket said that they were "very positive" with regards to the progress of playing Test cricket in Pakistan. In November 2019, the PCB confirmed the dates and venues for the Test series, with the first test match taking place in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 11 to 15 December. It was the first test match played at this venue after 15 years and first International match after 13 years.
2024–25 renovation In preparation for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) renovates the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium to meet international standards. Initially budgeted at PKR 1.5 billion, costs rose to PKR 18 billion due to additional upgrades across multiple venues like Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore and National Stadium, Karachi. The refurbishment includes an upgraded main pavilion and media boxes, new seating, 350 LED floodlights, and improved hospitality boxes. Despite concerns about delays, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has assured timely completion. The stadium hosts three group-stage matches, featuring teams like Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.
On 8 May 2025 during the 2025 India–Pakistan strikes, a drone from India landed inside the stadium complex before the start of a Pakistan Super League Twenty20 match, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board to transfer the games to the United Arab Emirates.
Cricket World Cup This Stadium hosted three ODI matches during the 1996 Cricket World Cup. 1996 Cricket World Cup
ICC Champions Trophy
Records 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 RecordRunsTeam/playerOppositionDateHighest team total657 England Pakistan1 December 2022Lowest team total139/10 West Indies Pakistan29 November 1997Highest individual score270 Rahul Dravid Pakistan13 April 2004Highest partnership323 Aamer Sohail & Inzamam-ul-Haq West Indies29 November 1997
One Day Internationals RecordRunsTeam/playerOppositionDateHighest team total337/3 Pakistan New Zealand29 April 2023Lowest team total104/10 Zimbabwe Sri Lanka29 November 1997Highest individual score188* Gary Kirsten United Arab Emirates16 February 1996Highest partnership204 Saleem Malik & Inzamam-ul-Haq Sri Lanka19 November 1992
T20 Internationals RecordRunsTeam/playerOppositionDateHighest team total194/4 New Zealand Pakistan24 April 2023Lowest team total90 New Zealand Pakistan12 April 2024Highest individual score104 Mark Chapman Pakistan24 April 2023Highest partnership121* Mark Chapman & James Neesham Pakistan24 April 2023
List of five wicket hauls Key Symbol MeaningDateDay the Test started or ODI was heldInnInnings in which five-wicket haul was takenOversNumber of overs bowled.RunsNumber of runs concededWktsNumber of wickets takenEconRuns conceded per overDrawnThe match was drawn.
Tests 23 five-wicket hauls have been taken in Test matches at the ground. No.BowlerDateTeamOpposing teamInnOversRunsWktsResult 1 Waqar Younis Pakistan won 2 Heath Streak Pakistan won 3 Wasim Akram Pakistan won 4 Mushtaq Ahmed Pakistan won 5 Chris Cairns Pakistan won 6 Mohammad Zahid Pakistan won 7 Saqlain Mushtaq Drawn 8 Courtney Walsh Pakistan won 9 Stuart MacGill Australia won 10 Anrich Nortje Pakistan won 11 Hasan Ali Pakistan won 12 George Linde Pakistan won 13 Hasan Ali Pakistan won 14 Noman Ali Drawn 15 Will Jacks England won 16 Mehidy Hasan Miraz Bangladesh won 17 Khurram Shahzad Bangladesh won 18 Hasan Mahmud Bangladesh won 19 Sajid Khan Pakistan won 20 Noman Ali Pakistan won 21 Keshav Maharaj South Africa won 22 Asif Afridi South Africa won 23 Simon Harmer South Africa won
One Day Internationals Five five-wicket hauls have been taken in One Day Internationals at the ground. No.BowlerDateTeamOpposing teamInnOversRunsWktsEconResult 1 Saqlain Mushtaq Pakistan won 2 Shaheen Afridi Pakistan won 3 Iftikhar Ahmed Pakistan won 4 Mohammad Hasnain Tied 5 Blessing Muzarabani Tied
See also 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 Pakistan Cricket Board List of Test cricket grounds
References
External links CricketArchive Profile Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium at ESPNcricinfo