Do you want to know about the best cricket stadiums in Pakistan? Gaddafi Stadium is in Lahore, Pakistan. It is the home ground for the national cricket team of Pakistan and also the headquarters of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). 

We will tell you more about Gaddafi Stadium before we mention some game statistics.

History of Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 

This cricket stadium in Lahore was designed by a famous architect from Russia for Pakistan to be equipped with a well-off cricket stadium. His name is Nasreddin Murat-Khan. He designed the national monument, the Minar-e-Pakistan, which is located in Iqbal Park in Lahore. It was originally called Lahore Stadium and it was built by Mian Abdul Khaliq and Company.

In 1974, the former Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi gave a speech at the venue during the 2nd Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). After that, it was officially named "Gaddafi Stadium''. Qazzafi Stadium and Qaddafi Stadium are two spellings that people also use to refer to this historic ground.

Match History of the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, has had many test matches. One of the first was a cricket match that took place in 1959. The first one-day international (ODI) was also at Gaddafi Stadium and took place in 1978 against England. The first T-20 match was played here against Zimbabwe in 2015.

The most famous games here are the 1987 and 1996 Cricket World Cup tournaments. This stadium is also home to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) team, Lahore Qalandars. It hosts a number of games for the series every year. In 2020, this was where 14 matches were played, including the PSL Final.

Features of the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

The stadium was renovated before it hosted the 1996 Cricket World Cup matches. The architect, Nayyar Ali Dada, was commissioned to do the renovations and he took inspiration from Muslim architecture for its beautiful red-brick design. 

Floodlights were also added to the stadium during this time, making this the first mosque in Pakistan with floodlights for night matches.

At present, the Gaddafi Stadium can hold around 27,000 fans. The stands are a great place to watch a game of cricket. The stadium has plastic seating in comparison to concrete benches that are found in most stadiums. It also has a lower section of the stands that have been converted into shops selling food and souvenirs.

How to Reach Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore?

Gaddafi Stadium is hard to miss because of its red brick walls. It is located in Gulberg district 3 near other sports stadiums. To find it, go to Hafeez Kardar Road on Ferozepur Road where you can take buses or other forms of public transportation.

The National Hockey Stadium and Punjab Athletics Stadium are located right next to Gaddafi Stadium. While the Punjab International Swimming Complex, Quaid e Azam International Cycling Velodrome, Punjab Institute of Language, Art & Culture, Alhamra Open Air Theatre, Nishtar Park Sports Complex, and the National Cricket Academy are all around.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Fans ask many questions about the Gaddafi Stadium. Some of these are answered here:

Where is Gaddafi Stadium?

It is in Gulberg, Lahore. It is close to Ferozepur Road.

What is the Seating Capacity of Gaddafi Stadium?

The stadium can hold around 27,000 people. This is after the last renovation.

Is Gaddafi Stadium the Largest Cricket Stadium in Pakistan?

The most popular cricket stadium in Pakistan is not the biggest anymore. The renovations made the stadium smaller and now it can hold 27,000 people. Earlier the stadium hosted more guests. Karachi National Stadium is now the largest cricket stadium in Pakistan that can hold 34,000 fans.

How can I Book Tickets for a Match in Gaddafi Stadium?

The stadium does not have any games or tournaments at the moment. But you can follow PCB's social media pages to find out when there are games, who is playing and how to book tickets. 

Gaddafi Stadium is in Lahore, Pakistan. It has seen some amazing moments such as hat-tricks and a 281-run stand on the 5th wicket between Javed Miandad, and Asif Iqbal.

Next time there's a game you can go to the stadium and watch history happen!