The Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, also known as the Sylhet Stadium, is one of the biggest and most popular stadiums in Bangladesh.
Established recently in 2007, the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium has the capacity to accommodate around about 18,500 spectators.
It’s one of the only stadiums in Bangladesh to have a green gallery and has hosted T20I, ODIs, and Test matches.
The first-ever international match that was held in this stadium was a T20 international between Ireland and Zimbabwe in March 2014. The Irish won the match by three wickets.
This venue also hosted games during the 2014 Men’s T20 World Cup and the 2014 Women’s T20 World Cup, and is one of the main grounds used during the Bangladesh Premier League.
A beautiful and scenic stadium that is surrounded by hills and has a picturesque view, it is the home ground for the Bangladesh cricket team on the international stage, the Sylhet Division Cricket team in Bangladesh’s domestic league and the Sylhet Strikers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
This venue also hosted the 2022 Women's Twenty20 Asia Cup and has witnessed some incredible cricketing performances over the years.
With that in mind, here’s a closer look at some of the records and T20 stats from the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Sylhet International Cricket Stadium T20 records
Highest total
The highest total in T20s at this venue came during the 2019 edition of the Bangladesh Premier League. In match 22 of BPL 2019 between Chittagong Vikings and Khulna Titans, the former socred 214/4 - the highest T20 total on the ground - with the help of fifties from Yasir Ali and Mushfiqur Rahim. In response, Khulna Titans managed to score 188/8 as Chittagong Vikings claimed a 26-run win.
In T20Is, Sri Lanka holds the record for the highest total at this venue. Powered by a Kusal Mendis 70 and healthy top-order contributions, the Lankans posted 210/4 in the second T20I of a two-match series against Bangladesh in 2018. They went on to win the match by 75 runs to seal a 2-0 series triumph.
Lowest total
Mohammedan Sporting Club holds the unwanted record of the lowest T20 total on this ground. After being set a target of 205 to chase by Prime Bank Cricket Club in a 2013 Victory Day T20 Cup encounter, Mohammedan Sporting Club crumbled under the pressure of a chase and were bundled out for a mere 45, losing the match by a whopping 159 runs.
As far as T20 internationals go, UAE’s 116/9 against Zimbabwe in a First Round Group B of the World T20 2014 is the lowest total. Asked to bat first by Zimbabwe in the 11th match of the tournament, UAE managed to score just 116 and the Chevrons chased down the target comfortably with five wickets and 38 balls to spare.
Most runs
With 481 runs, Bangladesh’s Anamul Haque has scored the most runs in T20s on this ground. He’s scored his runs at an average of 37 and has hit a fifty and a hundred, including a best score of 105 at the venue. Anamul Haque got his runs while representing the likes of Chittagong Vikings, Comilla Victorians, Dhaka Platoon, Fortune Barishal, Prime Bank Cricket Club and Sylhet Sunrisers in T20s.
On the other hand, Netherlands’ Tom Cooper has the most T20I runs at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. In three matches on the ground, the Dutchman has scored 151 runs at an average of 151. He has made one fifty against Zimbabwe at this venue in T20Is.
Most wickets
Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has the honour of having the most wickets in T20s at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. In 12 matches on the ground, Shakib Al Hasan has taken 18 wickets at an average of 16.94 and an economy of 7.01. He’s taken his scalps while playing for the likes of Bangladesh and Dhaka Dynamites, Fortune Barishal, and Prime Bank Cricket Club.
Netherlands bowler Ahsan Malik has taken more wickets (6) than anyone else in T20Is on this ground. He claimed his six wickets in T20Is here at an average of 12 and an economy of 6.08 from three games.
Highest individual score
West Indies batter Johnson Charles holds the record for the highest individual score in T20s on this ground. In match 32 of BPL 2023, Charles smashed a stunning 56-ball 107 not out to help Comilla Victorians chase down a 211-run target against Khulna Tigers. His Player of the Match performance featured five fours and 11 sixes as Comilla Victorians won the game with seven wickets and 10 balls to spare.
On the international stage, Netherlands’ Tom Cooper holds the record for the highest individual score in T20Is. In the seventh match of the tournament against Zimbabwe in a First Round Group B World T20 2014 encounter, the Dutch opted to bat first and managed to post 140/5 on the scoreboard with the help of Tom Cooper’s unbeaten 58-ball 72. Zimbabwe went on to chase down the target with five wickets to spare as they won the game off the last ball.
Best bowling figures
The same game that witnessed Mohammedan Sporting Club create the record of the lowest T20 total on this ground also saw star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan register the best bowling figures at this venue. Representing Prime Bank Cricket Club in a 2013 Victory Day T20 Cup encounter and tasked with defending a target of 205, Shakib Al Hasan made light work of Mohammedan Sporting Club’s batters by restricting them to just 45 runs and finished with figures of 6/18 as Prime Bank Cricket Club notched a 159-run win.
Meanwhile, Sheldon Cottrell has the best bowling figures in T20Is on this ground. In the first match of a three-game series against Bangladesh in 2018, West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell bowled impressively to finish with figures of 4/28 as the Bangla Tigers were bowled out in 19 overs with just 129 on the scoreboard. The Windies chased down the target in just 10.5 overs and won the match by eight wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Highest partnership
The same match that saw Johnson Charles make the highest individual score with Comilla Victorians at this venue also witnessed Tamim Iqbal and Shai Hope string together the highest-ever 20-over format partnership on the ground. Representing Khulna Tigers in the 32nd match of BPL 2023, Tamim Iqbal and Shai Hope put on a 184-run stand for the second wicket after their team was asked to bat first. Tamim Iqbal finished on 95 and Shai Hope made an unbeaten 91 as Khulna Tigers posted a formidable 210/2 on the scoreboard. However, Johnson Charles’ brilliant 107 not out helped Comilla Victorians win the game by seven wickets.
Ireland’s Andrew Poynter and Kevin O’Brien combined to stitch together th highest partnerships at this venue in T20Is during the 12th match of the First Round Group B World T20 2014 against Netherlands. Asked to bat first by the Dutch, the Irish posted 189/4 on the scoreboard thanks in part to a 101-run stand for the fourth wicket by Andrew Poynter and Kevin O’Brien. While Poynter made 57, O’Brien finished unbeaten on 42 off 16 balls. The Netherlands would later chase down the target with six wickets and more than six overs to spare.
Photo credit: Alamy
