The Multan Cricket Stadium, located in Pakistan, is a multi-purpose stadium, with a seating capacity of 30,000 spectators.

Inaugurated in 2001, it was a replacement for the Ibn-e-Qasim Bagh Stadium. While the stadium was initially constructed without floodlights, they were added in 2006.

The first Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium was hosted in 2001. So far, six Tests have been played at the venue, three of which have been won by the host nation Pakistan.

Batters rejoice batting on the pitch in Multan, especially on days two and three. While the average first innings score here is 333, the average second innings score increases to 389.

Spinners tend to benefit on the fourth and fifth days due to the rough patches created by the dryness in the pitch. The average third and fourth innings totals at the Multan Cricket Stadium drop to 265 and 255, respectively.

Multan Cricket Stadium Test records

Highest total: India’s 675/5 against Pakistan in March 2004 is the highest Test total at the Multan Cricket Stadium. On the back of Virender Sehwag’s triple-century and a 348-ball 194 from Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian cricket team amassed the score in the first two days.

West Indies are second with a score of 591. Pakistan are third on the list, having made 546/3.

Lowest total: Bangladesh have the three lowest totals at the Multan Cricket Stadium with scores of 134, 148 and 154, respectively. Pakistan’s lowest was 175 in September 2003 against the Bangla Tigers.

England were also bowled out for 175 at this venue by Pakistan in November 2005.

Highest individual score: Virender Sehwag, the former Indian cricketer, has the highest individual score at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The opening batter smashed 309 runs off 375 balls in March 2004, which included 39 fours and six sixes. He is the only triple-centurion in Tests at the venue.

Brain Lara of the West Indies is the only other double-centurion here. He scored a 262-ball 216 in November 2006. Mohammad Yousuf has three 100+ scores, the most by any player in Tests here. 

Best bowling figures: Abrar Ahmed of Pakistan, making his debut, picked up seven wickets, while conceding 114 runs, against England in December 2022. It is the best bowling figures at the venue in Test matches.

Danish Kaneria and Anil Kumble have picked up six wickets in an innings at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Kaneria achieved this feat twice in one match against Bangladesh in August 2001. He also has a five-wicket haul in a Test innings at this stadium.

Meanwhile, Kumble’s six-fer enabled India to win by an innings and 52 runs against Pakistan in March 2004. 

Most runs: Pakistan’s former middle-order batter Mohammad Yousuf has scored the most runs in Tests at the Multan Cricket Stadium. While averaging 86.16, he amassed 517 runs.

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain, and Virender Sehwag feature among the top run-getters here.

Most wickets: Danish Kaneria, the Karachi-born leg spinner, scalped 22 wickets in three matches, the most by a player in Tests here. He has registered three five-wicket hauls (in an innings) and one 10-wicket haul (in a Test) at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan’s Shabbir Ahmed, who has picked 12 wickets, is the only other player with 10-plus wickets in the longest format at this stadium. 

Highest partnership: Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar added 336 runs for the third wicket in March 2004 against Pakistan. It remains the highest partnership at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Test cricket.

West Indies’ Brian Lara and Dwayne Bravo have registered the only other double-century partnership at the venue, accumulating 200 runs in November 2006.

 

Featured image: Alamy