The Gaddafi Stadium, previously called the Lahore Stadium, is the fourth biggest stadium in Pakistan and boasts a capacity of 27,000 spectators.

Established in 1959, the Gaddafi Stadium was renovated ahead of the 1996 ODI World Cup final during which it hosted the final of the tournament.

Equipped with modern floodlights that have their own standby power generators, it is home to the Pakistan cricket team, Central Punjab Pakistan, and Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The headquarters for the Pakistan Cricket Board is also located at the Gaddafi Stadium and this venue has hosted innumerable PSL matches, including the 2017 final.

The first T20I at this stadium was contested between Pakistan and Zimbabwe in May 2015 with the former winning the encounter by five wickets.

This venue also hosted three matches during the 2018 Blind World Cup while its first World Cup encounter on this ground took place in 1987.

Here’s a closer look at some of the interesting records and stats from the Gaddafi Stadium.

Gaddafi Stadium T20 records and stats

Highest total

The highest total in T20s at this venue was made by Multan Sultans against Quetta Gladiators in match 25 of PSL 2022. They made 245/3 en route to a 117-run win after bundling out the Gladiators for 128.

In T20Is, England has the highest total at this venue in October 2022. They made 209/3 in the final match of a seven-game series against Pakistan and restricted the Men in Green to 142/8 as England won by 67 runs.

Lowest total

During a domestic T20 tournament between Multan Tigers and Sialkot Stallions in 2013, the former managed to make just 47/9 in a game that was reduced to 14 overs due to unavoidable circumstances. Sialkot Stallions chased down the target in 6.3 overs and won the match by nine wickets.

In T20Is, Pakistan has made the lowest total at this venue against Sri Lanka in a 20-over clash in 2019. Asked to chase a target of 166, Pakistan was bundled out for just 101 as Sri Lanka won the game by 64 runs.

Most runs

Shoaib Malik has scored the most T20 runs on this ground having made 1,347 runs over the years while representing the likes of Pakistan, Pakistan International Airlines, Central Punjab Pakistan, Peshawar Zalmi, and Sialkot Stallions. He got his runs at an average of over 50 on this ground and registered 10 fifties. 

In T20 internationals, Pakistan’s Babar Azam has got the most runs here. He’s scored 537 runs at this venue at an average of above 40 and has four fifties while batting at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Most wickets

Wahab Riaz has picked up 52 wickets at this stadium in T20s while playing for the likes of Pakistan, Central Punjab Pakistan, Lahore Lions, National Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan A, Hyderabad Hawks, and Peshawar Zalmi. He got his scalps at an average of 21.94 and an economy of 6.82.

On the international stage, Pakistan’s Shadab Khan has taken the most wickets (9) in 20-over matches on this ground. 

Highest individual score

Australia’s Chris Lynn boasts the highest individual score by any batter in T20s on this ground. He scored an unbeaten 113 off 55 for Lahore Qalandars and helped his team chase down a formidable 187-run target to beat Multan Sultans by nine wickets in Match 29 of PSL 2020.

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, meanwhile, has the highest individual score by any batter in T20Is on this ground. During the first T20I of South Africa’s tour of Pakistan in 2021, he made an unbeaten 104 from 64 balls as the hosts posted 169/6 on the scoreboard. Pakistan eventually won the game by three runs.

Best bowling figures

Pakistan bowler Usman Shinwari has the best T20 bowling figures among any bowlers at the Gaddafi Stadium. While representing Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited against Sui Northern in a domestic T20 tournament in 2013, Shinwari produced a top spell. He finished with figures of 5/9 and derailed Sui Northern’s run chase to help Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited win the contest by 78 runs.

During the second T20I in South Africa’s tour of Pakistan in 2021, the Proteas’ Dwaine Pretorius bagged the best bowling figures on this ground in T20 internationals. His 5/17 included the prized scalps of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan and restricted Pakistan to 144/7. South Africa eventually won the match by six wickets.

Highest partnership

Pakistan’s Abdul Razzaq and Nasir Jamshed hold the record for the highest partnership in T20s on this ground. While representing Lahore Lions against Quetta Bears in a domestic T20 tournament in 2009, the duo put on 162 runs together for the third wicket and helped Lahore Lions post 214/6 on the scoreboard. Razzaq went on to score 109 and was Player of the Match after helping his team win by 74 runs.

As far as T20 internationals go, Pakistan’s Mukhtar Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad are the duo with the best partnership at this venue. They put on 142 runs for the first wicket in a 173-run chase against Zimbabwe in 2015. Their partnership helped Pakistan win the game by five wickets.

Photo credit: Alamy