Established in 2009, Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates has become one of the most common venues for T20 cricket in recent years.
One of the four venues for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, the multi-purpose stadium has hosted many Test matches, ODIs and T20Is in its 12 years of history.
It has also hosted domestic T20 tournaments like the Pakistan Super League and the Indian T20 League, Dubai International Cricket Stadium hosted its first-ever T20I match on May 7, 2009, played between Australia and Pakistan.
The Aussies were bundled out for just 108 on the night owing to the bowling brilliance of Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi. And it took Pakistan a little more than 16 overs to reach their target, with Kamran Akmal scoring a 42-ball 59.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium T20I records
Highest team total: The highest team total at Dubai International Cricket Stadium was scored by Sri Lanka in December 2013 against Pakistan. Riding on the back of Kusal Perera and Tilakaratne Dilshan’s century-run stand followed by Kumar Sangakkara’s 21-ball 44, the Lankan Lions went on to score 211/3 in 20 overs. They managed to restrict Pakistan at 187 to win the match by 24 runs.
Lowest team total: West Indies’s 55 all-out against England in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 is the lowest team total at the venue. Put in to bat, West Indies kept losing wickets at regular intervals as Adil Rashid wreaked havoc returning with figures of 2.2-0-2-4. In reply, England won the match inside nine overs.
Highest individual score: Quite interestingly, not even a single century has been scored at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Twenty20 internationals. Playing against Scotland during an ICC T20 World encounter in 2021, New Zealand opening batter Martin Guptill scored a 56-ball 93, which remains the highest individual score at Dubai International Stadium in T20I cricket.
Best bowling figure: Umar Gul’s figure of 4/8 against Australia in the first-ever T20I of the venue remained the best bowling figure until 2016. However, on September 23, 2016, Imad Wasim cut through the West Indies’ batting line-up to finish with figures of 5/14, which is the best bowling figures at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Highest partnership: Pakistan duo of Mohammad Rizwan and captain Babar Azam hold the record for the highest partnership at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the T20I format. Opening the batting, Rizwan and Azam forged an unbeaten 152-run stand against arch-rivals India during an ICC World T20 group encounter in 2021. The impressive partnership helped Pakistan thrash India by 10 wickets in the high-profile clash.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium Indian T20 League records
Most runs: Team Punjab opener KL Rahul has scored the most runs (606) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the Indian T20 League. Rahul had a stellar average of 107 at Dubai in the rescheduled Indian T20 League in 2021.
Most wickets: Yuzvendra Chahal has the most wickets (19) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the Indian T20 League. The leg spinner has an economy of 6.66 at the venue.
Highest team total: The 47th match of the 2020 Indian T20 League saw Team Hyderabad posting 219/2 on board against Team Delhi. This remains the highest team total at the venue.
Lowest team total: The sixth match of the 2020 Indian T20 League saw the best of KL Rahul, who scored a blistering 69-ball 132 as Team Punjab posted 206/3 for Team Bangalore to chase. Bangalore’s batting line-up stumbled to a paltry 109 which is the lowest team total at the venue.
Best bowling figures: Arshdeep Singh's 5/32 against Rajasthan are the best bowling figures at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The left-arm seamer picked three wickets in his last two overs to restrict Rajasthan to 185 on a placid batting wicket. Although Punjab lost the match by just 2 runs, Arshdeep's spell earned him a lot of plaudits from the cricket fraternity all over the world.
Highest individual score: KL Rahul’s 69-ball 132 against Team Bangalore on September 24, 2020, is the highest individual score at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the Indian T20 League. The batsman hit 14 fours and seven sixes at an impressive strike rate of 191.30.
Featured photo: AFP / GIUSEPPE CACACE
