The Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates was opened in May 2004 and staged its first first-class match when Scotland played Kenya in the Intercontinental Cup in November the same year.
The Sheikh Zayed Stadium made its international debut with an India-Pakistan ODI match on April 18, 2006, which Pakistan won by six wickets.
With a seating capacity of 20000, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium is dominated by two large stands at either end. The areas to the square of the wicket offer large grass banks for spectators to sit.
Four years after its ODI debut, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium made its T20I bow in February 2010 in a World T20 Qualifier between Afghanistan and Scotland, a match Afghanistan won by 14 runs.
A few months later in November the same year, the venue hosted its first Test match, between Pakistan and South Africa which ended in a draw.
With that said, let us glance through all the ODI records and stats at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi ODI records and stats
Most runs
Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq has the most runs in ODIs played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The middle-order batter accumulated 585 runs from 15 innings at an impressive average of 48.75.
Misbah has a total of six fifties at the venue with the unbeaten 79 in Pakistan’s 31-run win over the West Indies in 2008 being his highest score. Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan is second on the list with 576 runs from 18 matches.
Most wickets
Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal is on top of the bowlers’ charts with 29 wickets from 18 ODIs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. He averages 23.79 and has an economy of 4.05 in ODIs at the venue.
Ajmal registered his best figures of 5/43 at the venue in Pakistan’s 130-run loss to England in 2012. Ajmal’s former teammate Umar Gul is second on the list with a tally of 28 wickets from 16 matches.
Highest Total
Pakistan’s 313/9 against Sri Lanka in an ODI in 2007 is the highest total by a team at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Pakistan opener Salman Butt top-scored in the match with 74 runs off 81 balls, which included 11 fours. Yasir Hameed also supported well scoring a 53-ball 50 with seven hits to the fence. Entertaining cameos from captain Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Sami powered Pakistan past the 300-run mark.
In response, Sri Lanka could manage only 215 before getting all out. Shahid Afridi picked up 3/37 for Pakistan while Mohammad Asif, Sami and Umar Gul got two wickets each.
Lowest Total
Afghanistan had the ignominy of registering the lowest total in ODIs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium when they were skittled out for 63 in a 150-run loss to Scotland in 2015. Batting first, Scotland got to a respectable total of 213/7 with half-centuries from Richie Berrington and Josh Davey.
In response, Afghanistan could not pose a challenge as Josh Davey and Iain Wardlaw picked up 6/28 and 4/22, respectively. Only three batters were able to reach the double-figure mark for Afghanistan in that match.
Highest individual score
Alastair Cook’s 137 in England’s 130-run win over Pakistan in 2012 is the highest individual score in ODIs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The England skipper led from the front with his majestic knock which came in 142 balls to help his side post a challenging 260/7 while batting first. Cook’s innings was laden with 14 boundaries and he received good support from Ravi Bopara who scored 50 off 69 balls.
Pakistan were bowled out for 130 in the chase and Cook was deservingly adjudged the Player of the Match.
Best bowling figures in a match
Josh Davey’s 6/28 in Scotland’s 150-run rout of Afghanistan in 2015 is the best bowling figures recorded by a player in an ODI at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Davey’s career-best bowling figures in ODIs also subjected Afghanistan to the lowest ODI total recorded at the venue.
Davey had a dream match as he had earlier scored an unbeaten fifty to guide Scotland to a respectable total of 213/7 in the first innings. The medium-pacer won the Player of the Match for his all-round efforts in the contest.
Highest Partnership
Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal’s unbeaten association of 198 runs for the fourth wicket against Australia in 2009 is the highest partnership in ODIs recorded at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
In pursuit of 251, the partnership helped Pakistan out of a precarious situation as they were reduced to 56/3. Akmal top-scored for Pakistan with an unbeaten 116 while Misbah remained not out on 76 at the other end as the Men in Green pocketed the contest by seven wickets with three overs to spare.
Photo credit: Imago
