Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium
 | |
| Ground information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Coordinates | 24°23′47″N 54°32′26″E / 24.39639°N 54.54056°ECoordinates: 24°23′47″N 54°32′26″E / 24.39639°N 54.54056°E |
| Establishment | 2004 |
| Capacity | 20,000 |
| Operator | Pakistan Cricket Board |
| Tenants | Pakistan national cricket team |
| End names | |
|
North End Pavilion End | |
| International information | |
| First Test |
20–24 November 2010: Pakistan v  South Africa |
| Last Test |
21–25 October 2016: Pakistan v  West Indies |
| First ODI |
18 April 2006: Pakistan v  India |
| Last ODI |
5 October 2016: Pakistan v West Indies |
| First T20I |
10 February 2010: Afghanistan v  Scotland |
| Last T20I |
27 September 2016: Pakistan v West Indies |
|
As of 21 October 2016 Source: ESPNcricinfo | |
The Sheikh Zayed Stadium (Arabic: ملعب الكريكيت الشيخ زايد) is a cricket ground located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The stadium cost $23 million to build and was opened in May 2004,[1] with its inaugural first-class match being an Intercontinental Cup fixture between Scotland and Kenya in November of that year.
The stadium is dominated by two large stands at either end, with the areas square of the wicket offering grass banks for additional seating. It can hold 20,000 people.
International fixtures
IPL (Indian Premier League)
The first half of the 2014 Indian Premier League was held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium.
Friendship Series (Pakistan vs India)
Among the stadium's most memorable events were the back-to-back charity matches between rivals Pakistan and India in April 2006. These matches were significant as the arch-rivals put aside their differences to support the victims of the 2005 Pakistan earthquake. The series was expected to raise $10 million for earthquake relief. B.R. Shetty, of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council, said: "Of the total money raised, 75 percent will go to Pakistan and the rest to India".[2]
Other competitions
Many international series have been played there. Following the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team, Pakistan was unable to host home matches at the stadium. However, Zimbabwe successfully toured Pakistan from May 19–31, 2015, playing five matches in Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Pakistan has hosted series against Australia, England, West Indies, New Zealand and South Africa at this stadium. Because of the Indian general election, the first leg of 2014's Indian Premier League was played there as well as in Dubai DSC Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium.
Domestic fixtures
In 2009 the stadium hosted numerous cricket games, mostly fixtures in the Nissan Gulf Cup, where domestic teams from England and India competed against each other for the title. In March 2009, Sussex, Lancashire, Middlesex and Surrey played pre-season friendlies there.
In 2012 Pakistan played one test and two one day games against England.
See also
References
- ↑ "Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium- Abu Dhabi Cricket Club". AdCricketClub. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ↑ in.sports.yahoo.com/060418/137/63mem.html
External links
- "World Stadiums - Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi". worldstadiums.com.
- "Sheikh Zayed Stadium - United Arab Emirates - Cricket Grounds - ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo.