Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

File:RWPCS3.jpg|right]]

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was established in 1992 and replaced Pindi Club Ground as an international stadium.{{Cite web|url=http://www.radio.gov.pk/programme/25-01-2023/documentary-rawalpindi-cricket-stadium|title=Documentary: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium|website=Radio Pakistan}}{{Cite news |date=2005-10-25 |title=Pakistan ground guide: Rawalpindi |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/4345368.stm |access-date=2022-10-01}}

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It is the home ground of Islamabad United and Northern cricket team. Before the construction of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi Club Cricket Ground had been used as a venue for international matches, including one Test match against New Zealand that was held in March 1965.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-tour-of-pakistan-1964-65-62109/pakistan-vs-new-zealand-1st-test-62974/full-scorecard|title=Full Scorecard of New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st Test 1964/65 - Score Report |website=ESPNcricinfo.com|access-date=18 November 2021}}

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was a prime spot in the 1995–96 Cricket World Cup. With an eye on the that World Cup, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled a new Test venue for the second Test against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi, becoming the country's 14th Test ground. The floodlights were added in late 2001 when the Australians were set to tour the region. The stadium is just 20 minutes from the capital Islamabad and is the only international cricket stadium in the Islamabad Capital territory.

This stadium was the home ground and international debut ground of the world's fastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar who is nicknamed the Rawalpindi Express.

In the 2nd ODI of 2004 Samsung ODI series, while other Indian batters are getting struggling with the pace and spin attack of Pakistan, Sachin Tendulkar played a courageous knock of 141 (135) in this ground.

in 2024-2025, Renovation efforts were to increase the capacity of the stadium of the upcoming CT 2025. The renovations included adding seats, new floodlights, new hospitality boxes and repainting the whole stadium. It increased the capacity from 15,000 to 18,000.

In April 2018, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the venue, along with several others in the country, would get a makeover to get them ready for future international matches and fixtures in the Pakistan Super League.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/666941 |title=Pakistan plans makeover for stadiums |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=17 April 2018}}

In October 2019, the PCB proposed hosting the two Test matches in Pakistan, instead of the UAE, at venues in Rawalpindi and Karachi.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27932586/pcb-propose-rawalpindi-karachi-venues-sri-lanka-test-series |title=PCB propose Rawalpindi and Karachi as venues for Sri Lanka Test series |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=26 October 2019}} Sri Lanka Cricket said that they were "very positive" with regards to the progress of playing Test cricket in Pakistan.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27956220/slc-very-positive-touring-pakistan-december |title=SLC 'very positive' about touring Pakistan in December |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=29 October 2019}} In November 2019, the PCB confirmed the dates and venues for the Test series, with the first test match taking place in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 11 to 15 December.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/pakistan-to-play-sri-lanka-tests-in-front-of-home-crowds.html |title=Pakistan to play Sri Lanka Tests in front of home crowds |work=Pakistan Cricket Board |access-date=14 November 2019}} It was the first test match played at this venue after 15 years and first International match after 13 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1527003|title=Pakistan pacers shine as Tests come home, but Sri Lanka hold steady|access-date=11 December 2019|work=ICC Cricket.com}}

In preparation for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) renovates the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium to meet international standards. Initially budgeted at PKR 1.5 billion, costs rose to PKR 18 billion due to additional upgrades across multiple venues like Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore and National Stadium, Karachi.{{Cite web |last=Yaqoob |first=Mohammad |date=2025-02-13 |title=Venues’ upgrade cost increase forces PCB to seek overdraft |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1891563 |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} The refurbishment includes an upgraded main pavilion and media boxes, new seating, 350 LED floodlights, and improved hospitality boxes. Despite concerns about delays, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has assured timely completion. The stadium hosts three group-stage matches, featuring teams like Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.{{Cite web |title=Renovation of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium nears completion ahead of ICC Champions trophy |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588248/%7B%7B |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Arab News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Express |first=Tribune |date=2025-01-11 |title=ICC delegation to assess Rawalpindi stadium for Champions Trophy 2025 |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2521437/icc-delegation-in-rawalpindi-to-review-stadium-for-champions-trophy-2025 |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}

This Stadium hosted three ODI matches during the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

===1996 Cricket World Cup===

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 16 February 1996

| team1 = {{cr-rt|RSA}}

| score1 = 321/2 (50 overs)

| score2 = 152/8 (50 overs)

| team2 = {{cr|UAE}}

| runs1 = Gary Kirsten 188* (159)

| wickets1 = Johanne Samarasekera 1/39 (9 overs)

| runs2 = Arshad Laeeq 43 (79)

| wickets2 = Brian McMillan 3/11 (8 overs)

| result = South Africa won by 169 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65158.html Scorecard]

| venue =

| umpires = Steve Bucknor and V. K. Ramaswamy

| motm = Gary Kirsten (SA)

| toss =

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 25 February 1996

| team1 = {{cr-rt|RSA}}

| score1 = 230 (50 overs)

| score2 = 152 (44.3 overs)

| team2 = {{cr|ENG}}

| runs1 = Gary Kirsten 38 (60)

| wickets1 = Peter Martin 3/33 (10 overs)

| runs2 = Graham Thorpe 46 (69)

| wickets2 = Shaun Pollock 2/16 (8 overs)

| result = South Africa won by 78 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65169.html Scorecard]

| venue =

| umpires = Steve Randell and Ian Robinson

| motm = Jonty Rhodes (SA)

| toss =

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 5 March 1996

| team1 = {{cr-rt|RSA}}

| team2 = {{cr|NED}}

| score1 = 328/3 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Andrew Hudson 161 (132)

| wickets1 = Eric Gouka 1/32 (2 overs)

| score2 = 168/8 (50 overs)

| runs2 = Nolan Clarke 32 (46)

| wickets2 = Allan Donald 2/21 (6 overs)

| result = South Africa won by 160 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65182.html Scorecard]

| venue =

| umpires = Khizer Hayat and Steve Randell

| motm = Andrew Hudson (SA)

| toss =

| rain =

| notes =

}}

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 24 February 2025

| time = {{UTZ|14:00|+5}}

| daynight = y

| team1 = {{cr-rt|BAN}}

| team2 = {{cr|NZ}}

| score1 = 236/9 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Najmul Hossain Shanto 77 (110)

| wickets1 = Michael Bracewell 4/26 (10 overs)

| score2 = 240/5 (46.1 overs)

| runs2 = Rachin Ravindra 112 (105)

| wickets2 = Taskin Ahmed 1/28 (7 overs)

| result = New Zealand won by 5 wickets

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1466419.html Scorecard]

| umpires = Kumar Dharmasena (SL) and Ahsan Raza (Pak)

| motm = Michael Bracewell (NZ)

| toss = New Zealand won the toss and elected to field.

| rain =

| notes = Michael Bracewell (NZ) delivered his best ODI bowling figures (4/26 in 10 overs) against Bangladesh. This feat set a new record for the best bowling figures by a New Zealand spinner in Champions Trophy history, surpassing Paul Wiseman's 4/45.{{cite web |access-date=24 February 2025 |title=Michael Bracewell's career-best 4-26 restricts Bangladesh |url=https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/133563/michael-bracewells-career-best-4-26-restricts-bangladesh |work=Cricbuzz}}

• Kane Williamson (NZ) surpassed Stephen Fleming as New Zealand's highest run-scorer in ICC ODI tournaments.
• Rachin Ravindra (NZ) completed 1,000 runs in ODIs in 26 innings. He became the fifth-fastest New Zealand batter to reach this milestone in ODIs.{{cite web |access-date=24 February 2025 |title=Mustafizur removes Conway to bring back life into the game for Bangladesh |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/champions-trophy-2025/news/live-new-zealand-take-on-bangladesh-in-a-crucial-group-a-encounter-in-rawalpindi |work=ICC}}
• Rachin Ravindra (NZ) became the first New Zealand batter to score 4 centuries in ICC ODI events.
• Glenn Phillips (NZ) completed 1,000 runs in ODIs.
• As a result of this match, India and New Zealand qualified for the semi-finals and Pakistan and Bangladesh were eliminated.{{cite web |access-date=24 February 2025 |title=India, New Zealand qualify for Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals; Pakistan, Bangladesh knocked out |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/sports/cricket/india-new-zealand-qualify-for-champions-trophy-2025-semifinals-pakistan-bangladesh-knocked-out-2025-02-24-977771 |work=IndiaTV News}}

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 27 February 2025

| time = {{UTZ|14:00|+5}}

| daynight = y

| team1 = {{cr-rt|PAK}}

| team2 = {{cr|BAN}}

| score1 =

| runs1 =

| wickets1 =

| score2 =

| runs2 =

| wickets2 =

| result =

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1466422.html Scorecard]

| umpires = Michael Gough (Eng) and Adrian Holdstock (SA)

| motm =

| toss =

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 25 February 2025

| time = {{UTZ|14:00|+5}}

| daynight = y

| team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}}

| team2 = {{cr|SA}}

| score1 =

| runs1 =

| wickets1 =

| score2 =

| runs2 =

| wickets2 =

| result =

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1466420.html Scorecard]

| umpires = Chris Gaffaney (NZ) and Richard Kettleborough (Eng)

| motm =

| toss =

| rain =

| notes =

}}

• First Test: Dec 9–14, 1993 – Pakistan v Zimbabwe
• First ODI: 19 Jan 1992 – Pakistan v Sri Lanka.
• First T20I: 7 Jan 2020 – Pakistan v Zimbabwe.

Nineteen five-wicket hauls have been taken in Test matches at the ground.{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;ground=1001;orderby=start;qualmin1=5;qualval1=wickets;size=200;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings|title=Statistics - Statsguru - Test Matches - Bowling Records| work=ESPN Cricinfo|access-date=31 August 2019}}

Five five-wicket hauls have been taken in One Day Internationals at the ground.{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2;filter=advanced;ground=1001;orderby=start;qualmin1=5;qualval1=wickets;size=200;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings|title=Statistics - Statsguru - One-Day Internationals - Bowling Records| work=ESPN Cricinfo|access-date=31 August 2019}}

• List of stadiums in Pakistan
• List of cricket grounds in Pakistan
• List of sports venues in Karachi
• List of sports venues in Lahore
• List of sports venues in Faisalabad
• Pakistan Cricket Board
• List of Test cricket grounds

{{reflist}}

• [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/22/1544.html CricketArchive] Profile
• [https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricket-grounds/rawalpindi-cricket-stadium-59006 Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium] at ESPNcricinfo

{{Cricket grounds in Pakistan}}

{{Islamabad United}}

Category:Test cricket grounds in Pakistan

Category:Stadiums in Pakistan

Category:Cricket grounds in Pakistan

Category:1992 establishments in Pakistan