The Multan Cricket Stadium is a multi-purpose venue located in Multan, Pakistan.
Established in 2001, the Multan Cricket Stadium has a seating capacity of 35,000. Interestingly, the stadium was built as a replacement for the Qasim Bagh stadium.
It is the home ground of the Pakistan cricket team, Southern Punjab cricket team and PSL outfit Multan Sultans.
Owned by the Pakistan Cricket Board, the Multan Cricket Stadium staged its first One-Day International (ODI) match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in 2003. The Inzamam-ul-Haq-led Pakistan won the match by a massive 137 runs in Multan, Punjab.
It later hosted its first day/night ODI game at this venue between arch-rivals Pakistan and India on February 16, 2006. Led by Rahul Dravid, India secured a five-wicket win in that match. It has staged 10 ODIs so far.
Let’s have a look at Multan Cricket Stadium ODI records and stats:
Multan Cricket Stadium ODI records and stats
Highest team total
The Pakistan cricket team holds the record for the highest team total at the Multan Cricket Stadium in ODI format. The hosts posted 323/3 in their 50 overs during the first ODI of Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan in 2003. Opener Yasir Hameed scored 116 while captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (56 not out) and Younis Khan (59 not out) hit fifties to power Pakistan to a huge total. In reply, Bangladesh were bowled out for 186 in 43.2 overs. Pakistan won the match by 137 runs and later registered a 5-0 ODI series win.
Lowest team total
The Zimbabwe cricket team recorded the lowest team total at the Multan Cricket Stadium in ODI cricket. Chasing a target of 293, the Tatenda Taibu-led Zimbabwe were skittled out for 148 in 38.3 overs against Pakistan in 2004. Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi were the standout bowlers for Pakistan as they bagged three wickets each. Earlier, all-rounder Abdul Razzaq’s unbeaten 107 guided Pakistan to 292/7 in their allotted 50 overs. Pakistan secured a comprehensive 144-run victory in Multan.
Most runs
Pakistan’s Imam-ul-Haq holds the record for the most runs at this venue in ODI cricket. The southpaw has scored 199 runs in three matches at an average of 66.33 and a strike rate of 94.31. He has slammed three fifties at the Multan cricket stadium in the 50-over format. Former Pakistani cricketer Yasir Hameed is second on the list with 197 runs in four ODIs.
Most wickets
Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has picked up the most wickets at the Multan Cricket Stadium in ODI cricket. The slow left-arm spinner has already scalped seven wickets in three matches at an average of 19.42 and an economy of 4.53. He recorded best bowling figures of 4/19 on this ground in ODI cricket. His compatriot Shadab Khan features second on the list with seven wickets in three ODIs.
Highest individual score
West Indies cricketer Shai Hope owns the record for the highest individual score at this venue in the ODI format. The stylish wicketkeeper-batter scored 127 off 134 balls during the first ODI of West Indies' tour of Pakistan in 2022. Hope’s scintillating knock included 15 fours and one six. West Indies rode on Hope’s brilliant hundred to post 305/8 in their 50 overs. However, captain Babar Azam (103), Imam-ul-Haq (65) and Mohammad Rizwan (59) helped Pakistan chase down the required target in 49.2 overs and register a five-wicket victory.
Best bowling figures
Mohammad Nawaz has the best bowling figures at the Multan Cricket Stadium in ODI cricket. During the second ODI of the West Indies tour of Pakistan in 2022, Nawaz registered match-winning figures of 4/10 in Multan. Defending 275, the left-arm spinner bagged the huge wickets of Shamarh Brooks, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran and Alzarri Joseph to bowl out West Indies for 155 in 32.2 overs.
Highest partnership
Former South Africa cricketers Graeme Smith and Shaun Pollock hold the record for the highest partnership at the Multan Cricket Stadium in the ODI format. Chasing 231, Graeme Smith and Shaun Pollock forged a match-winning 159-run stand for the second wicket to guide the visitors to a seven-wicket win in 2007. While Proteas captain Smith scored 81, star all-rounder Pollock slammed 90 off 84 balls. South Africa won the five-match ODI series 3-2.
Photo credit: Alamy
