National Stadium Karachi

The National Stadium is situated in Karachi. It was established on 21 April 1955. This stadium is owned by Pakistan Cricket Board and operated by Karachi City Cricket Association. This ground has the capacity for 34,228 viewers. This ground has two ends called the Pavilion end and University end. The National stadium became the highest capacity cricket ground of Pakistan when Gaddafi Stadium was renovated and its capacity was reduced to 27000. Karachi Kings is a super talented team, this ground is home ground of this talented team and is home to many other Karachi’s domestic cricket teams.

The National Stadium is Karachi’s fifth and Pakistan’s 11^th first-class ground. At this ground, First Test match was played between Pakistan and India in 1956 and the Last Test match was played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in February 2009. The ground of this stadium the spectators witnessed many memorable moments such as in the 1987 Cricket World Cup when Viv Richards scored 181 against Sri Lanka.At the ground Mohammad Yousaf made a ninth century of the year and break the record of Viv Richard for scoring most runs in the year. At this ground  Kamran Akmal had made a famous century against India on a very difficult pitch.

The Pakistani cricket team had made notable Test records at the ground. The Pakistani team had played 40 Test matches lost only in two Test matches. The first One Day International was played between Pakistan and West Indies on 21 November 1980 and West Indies won the Test series by 1-0. The last One Day International was played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2009 at National Stadium.

As National Stadium records remarkable moments so the highest partnership was noted between Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera against Pakistan in 2009 and scored 437 runs. Highest Individual scored was noted by Younis Khan against Sri Lanka in 2009 scored 313 runs. On 3 July 2008 in a One Day International between India and Sri Lanka, the highest run chase achieved was 310/4.In Asia Cup on 25 June 2008 at the ground of National Stadium the highest team total was recorded between India against Hong Kong 374/4.

In March 2018 the PCB’s ex-chairman Najam Sethi had decided that the National Stadium will host the final match of 2018 Pakistan Super League. So in 2018, the stadium was renovated by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi played the match at National stadium and it was the turning part for Pakistan when International stars played at this ground. To make the event successful the security forces of Pakistan played a vital role and took full control over Law and order situation in the city. Due to foo- proof security the national stadium welcomed a big crowd and game was full of enjoyment. It was the moment when international cricket returns to Pakistan. The First T20I was played between Pakistan and Bangladesh on April 2008 in National Stadium and the Last T20I was played between Pakistan and West Indies on 3 April 2018 in National Stadium.