Cricket is, hands-down, the most-watched, enjoyed, and popular sport in the country. For all the cricket fans, we will share a list of the most popular cricket stadiums in Pakistan, along with their location, history, and audience capacity.
Let’s begin!
Best Cricket Stadiums in Pakistan
It is no secret that cricket is the most played game in Pakistan. Although cricket matches are always broadcasted on television, the true essence of watching your favourite sport is only witnessed when you are sitting in the stadium.
That being said, here’s the list of some the best and largest cricket stadiums in Pakistan:
- National Stadium, Karachi
- Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
- Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar
- Bugti Stadium, Quetta
National Stadium, Karachi
Any listicle about the best cricket stadiums in Pakistan has to start with National Stadium, Karachi – country’s largest stadium. Established in 1955, this iconic ground is situated on National Stadium Road and serves as a home ground to Karachi Kings.
Previously considered as the ‘Fortress of Pakistani Cricket’, National Stadium in Karachi has the capacity to accommodate about 34,000 spectators. Not to mention, the pitch in this ground is beneficial for fast bowlers in test matches and it is also considered to be batting-friendly for One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
How to Get to National Stadium Karachi?
As mentioned earlier, National Stadium is situated on Stadium Road and around a few km from Expo Centre Karachi. Not to mention, the boundaries of the stadium is dotted with major arteries of the city. There’s an array of public transport near the stadium, so getting here from any corner of the city isn’t a problem.
On a side note, if you want to explore the best picnic spots in Karachi, visit the tourism section of our blog.
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Gaddafi Stadium – previously known as Lahore Stadium – is situated in the City of Gardens. Built in 1959, the stadium serves as the main training academy for cricket and as the home ground of the Lahore Qalandars. Besides being among the most important stadiums in Pakistan, Gaddafi Stadium can host around 27,000 onlookers in a single time.
Lahore Stadium is also known among the places where historic World Cups of `1987 and 1996 had taken place. Not to mention, the final matches for 2nd PSL was also held in this stadium in March 2017 and the pitch is mostly batting-friendly.
How to Get to Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore?
Located in Gulberg, Gaddafi Stadium is in close proximity with Ferozpur Road and Kalma Chowk Flyovers. Some of the important landmarks near Gaddafi Stadium are Mini Zoo, National Park, National Hockey Stadium, and Al-Hamra Open Air Theatre. Meanwhile, the stadium is well-connected with Hafeez Kardar Road which is among the busiest roads in Lahore and leads to many bus stops nearby.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
The next mention in our list of best cricket stadiums in Pakistan is Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Situated between twin cities – Islamabad and Rawalpindi – the stadium was constructed in 1992 on Stadium Road. Owing to recent renovations and development, Rawalpindi Stadium can accommodate 28,000 cricket fans.
As you would expect, the stadium is home ground to PSL team Islamabad United and it has served during the World Cup of 1996 while several other test matches have also been played on this ground.
How to Get to Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium?
Rawalpindi Stadium is situated near I-9 in Islamabad and it connects both cities via Stadium Road. Some of the important landmarks near the ground are Rawalpindi Arts Council, Wonderland Amusement Park, and E-Library Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, Shamshad Metro Station is around 2-minute drive from the stadium.
Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar
Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar is by far one of the most important cricket grounds in Pakistan. Mostly known for its near-perfect location near Shahi Bagh – a Mughal-era park – it is considered among the favourite locations of national players. The stadium was built in the early 1980s and it can accommodate around 20,000 spectators. It is home ground of the PSL team Peshawar Zalmi and it has also been used for several international cricket matches in the history. The pitch at the stadium is ideal for spinners.
How to Get to Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar?
Arbab Niazi Cricket Stadium is surrounded by the major arteries of Peshawar including Charsadda Road, Eidgah Road, Dilazak Road, and Shahi Road. Jhagra Suzuki Bus Stop and Hushtnagri Bus Stop are the nearest bus stations.
Bugti Stadium, Quetta
Bugti Cricket Stadium, Quetta – originally known as Racecourse Ground until 1989 – is named after Nawab Akbar Bugti. The official name of the stadium is Nawab Akbar Bugti Cricket Stadium and it is the home ground of the PSL team Quetta Gladiators. The stadium can accommodate 10,000 spectators while the pitch offers advantages to batsmen.
How to Get to Bugti Stadium in Quetta?
Bugti Stadium, Quetta is adjacent to Ayub National Stadium and Ayub Sports Complex while Quetta Fort is only a few minutes drive from here. The bus stops near the stadium are Pishin Bus Stop, Chaman Phatak Bus Stop, and Old Pishin Bus Stop.
This concludes our post on the rundown of the best cricket stadiums in Pakistan. We hope that our list has helped you figure out the best one in your city.
Don’t worry if you haven’t heard about some of them, since the PCB had recently decided to renovate several of them for PSL matches in the upcoming years. As such, Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar is most likely to get renovated for the PSL matches in the following years.
Tell us how many of these you have visited previously by writing to us at blog@jagahonline.com.
For more interesting posts, keep visiting JagahOnline Blog – Pakistan’s number one portal for authentic information. Make us a part of your timeline by liking our Facebook page. Show us some love by sharing this piece with all the cricket fans in your contact list.
