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{{Short description|Cricket stadium in Faisalabad, Pakistan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
| native_name = اقبال سٹیڈیم، فیصل آباد
| image =Iqbal Cricket Stadium Faisalabad PAKISTAN.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = View of Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad
| country =
| coordinates =
| city = [[Faisalabad]], [[Punjab, Pakistan]]
| capacity = 17,000
| owner = [[Pakistan Cricket Board]]
| mapframe-zoom = 14
| public_transit = {{rint|Bus}} Iqbal Stadium
| opened = {{start date and age|1978}}
| renovated = {{start date and age|2025|9|7}}
| expanded =
| embedded = {{Infobox cricket ground
| embed = yes
| international = true
| firsttestdate = 16 October
| firsttestyear = 1978
| firsttesthome = Pakistan
| firsttestaway = India
| lasttestdate = 21 January
| lasttestyear = 2006
| lasttesthome = Pakistan
| lasttestaway = India
| firstodidate = 23 November
| firstodiyear = 1984
| firstodihome = Pakistan
| firstodiaway = New Zealand
| lastodidate = 8 November
| lastodiyear = 2025
| lastodihome = Pakistan
| lastodiaway = South Africa
| firstt20idate =
| firstt20iyear =
| firstt20ihome =
| firstt20iaway =
| lastt20idate =
| lastt20iyear =
| lastt20ihome =
| lastt20iaway =
| firstwodidate =
| firstwodiyear =
| firstwodihome =
| firstwodiaway =
| lastwodidate =
| lastwodiyear =
| lastwodihome =
| lastwodiaway =

| date = 4 November
| year = 2025
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/ground/58927.html Iqbal Stadium, ESPNcricinfo
}}
}}
'''Iqbal Stadium''' ({{langx|ur|اقبال سٹیڈیم}}), formerly known as '''Lyallpur Stadium''', is a cricket stadium in [[Faisalabad]], [[Pakistan]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-10-21 |title=Pakistan ground guide: Faisalabad |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/4345050.stm |access-date=2025-05-01 |work=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> Constructed in the 1970s, it has hosted 24 Tests and 19 [[One Day International|ODIs]] so far.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rasool |first=Danyal |date=2025-04-30 |title=Pakistan vs Bangladesh T20Is: Faisalabad returns to calendar for five-match series in May {{!}} ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/pakistan-vs-bangladesh-t20is-faisalabad-returns-to-calendar-for-five-match-series-in-may-1483651 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> The venue has also been a key site for Pakistan's domestic cricket tournaments, such as the [[Quaid-e-Azam Trophy]].

The seating capacity of the stadium stands at 17,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paracha |first=Nadeem F. |author-link=Nadeem F. Paracha |date=2017-03-10 |title=Stadium stories: Famous Pakistan cricket grounds |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1319194 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
Iqbal Stadium was established in the early 1970s to accommodate the growing popularity of cricket in Faisalabad. Originally known as Lyallpur Stadium, it was renamed Iqbal Stadium in honor of Pakistan's [[national poet]], [[Muhammad Iqbal]]. The stadium quickly became one of Pakistan's most important cricketing venues, hosting its first Test match in October 1978 between [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] and [[India national cricket team|India]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Iqbal Stadium Records and Stats {{!}} ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricket-grounds/iqbal-stadium-faisalabad-58927/records |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |language=en}}</ref>

A modern and well-equipped cricket venue, it has suffered at the hands of weather conditions in the past. In 1998–99, the third Test against [[Zimbabwe national cricket team|Zimbabwe]] was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to thick fog.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-12-18 |title=Fog holds up play in Zimbabwe-Pakistan Test |url=https://i.imgci.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1998-99/ZIM_IN_PAK/SCORECARDS/ZIM_PAK_T3_17-21DEC1998_AFP_MR/ZIM_PAK_T3_18DEC1998_AFP_MR.html |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> Poor visibility has also caused difficulty in playing especially during the winter.

Since its inception, Iqbal Stadium has witnessed several historic cricketing moments, including famous Test matches involving Pakistan and international teams. An thrilling Test match was played between [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]] and Pakistan in 1997–98, when the visitors bowled out the hosts for 92 runs, successfully defending a target of 142 on the final day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PAK vs SA, South Africa tour of Pakistan 1997/98, 3rd Test at Faisalabad, October 24 - 27, 1997 - Full Scorecard |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/south-africa-tour-of-pakistan-1997-98-61841/pakistan-vs-south-africa-3rd-test-63768/full-scorecard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231229104112/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/south-africa-tour-of-pakistan-1997-98-61841/pakistan-vs-south-africa-3rd-test-63768/full-scorecard |archive-date=29 December 2023 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Then, in the 2004–05 season, Sanath Jayasuriya of [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] scored 253 as his team romped to a 201-run victory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PAK vs SL Cricket Scorecard, 1st Test at Faisalabad, October 20 - 24, 2004 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/sri-lanka-tour-of-pakistan-2004-05-61634/pakistan-vs-sri-lanka-1st-test-64105/full-scorecard |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref>

The ground is, however, most renowned for the on-field spat between [[England cricket team|England]] captain [[Mike Gatting]] and Pakistani [[Umpire (cricket)|umpire]] [[Shakoor Rana]] during England's 1987–88 tour. While being the square-leg umpire, Rana had objected to Gatting waving his hand at another fielder while the bowler was running in. A fierce altercation followed, which led to a day being lost during the match and some long-lasting bad feeling between the teams. The issue forced the British Ambassador Sir Nicholas Barrington to get involved in order to de-escalate the situation and force an apology from the England captain.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-14 |title=The Gatting-Rana fall-out: When a whole day of Test cricket was lost to a player-umpire argument |url=https://www.wisden.com/cricket-news/the-gatting-rana-fall-out-when-a-whole-day-of-test-cricket-was-lost-to-a-player-umpire-argument |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[Wisden]] |language=en}}</ref>

The stadium regularly hosted international matches until 2009, when all international cricket activities were suspended in Pakistan after [[2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team]]. The stadium, however, continued hosting domestic matches.

=== Domestic tournaments ===
The stadium hosted the [[2011 Super 8 Twenty20 Cup|2011]] and [[2015 Super 8 Twenty20 Cup|2015]] editions of the [[Super 8 Twenty20 Cup]].

In 2016, four new [[Cricket pitch|cricket pitches]] were added to take the total cricket pitches to nine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-15 |title=Renovated Iqbal Stadium to host Pakistan Cricket Cup |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/112875-Renovated-Iqbal-Stadium-to-host-Pakistan-Cricket-Cup |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[The News International]] |language=en}}</ref>

In September 2019, the [[Pakistan Cricket Board]] named it as one of the venues for matches in the [[2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-01-10 |title=PCB releases Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2019-20 schedule |url=https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/pcb-releases-quaid-e-azam-trophy-2019-20-schedule.html |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[Pakistan Cricket Board]] |language=en-US |archive-date=29 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929094240/https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/pcb-releases-quaid-e-azam-trophy-2019-20-schedule.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The stadium hosted the finals of the [[National T20 Cup]] in [[2019–20 National T20 Cup|2019]] and [[2024–25 National T20 Cup|2025]].

In August 2024, it was announced that the stadium would host all the matches of newly formulated domestic [[2024–25 Champions One-Day Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-08-28 |title=PCB announces Champions One-Day Cup schedule |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40319706/pcb-announces-champions-one-day-cup-schedule |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[Business Recorder]] |language=en}}</ref>

=== Return to international cricket ===
In September 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board revealed plans to upgrade the stadium to enable international matches to be hosted there.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-09-13 |title=PCB plans to upgrade Faisalabad's Iqbal stadium for international matches |url=https://arynews.tv/pcb-plans-to-upgrade-faisalabads-iqbal-stadium/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[ARY News]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

On April 30 2025, it was announced that international cricket will return to Iqbal Stadium after a gap of 17 years, with [[Bangladesh national cricket team|Bangladesh]] touring Pakistan in May 2025. Iqbal Stadium was to host the first two [[Twenty20 International|T20Is]] on 25 May and 27 May, but it did not host the matches due to certain reasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-04-30 |title=Cricketing action returns to iconic venue in Pakistan’s five-T20I series |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/cricketing-action-returns-to-iconic-venue-in-pakistan-s-five-t20i-series |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[International Cricket Council]] |language=en}}</ref> Pakistan [[South African cricket team in Pakistan in 2025–26|hosted South Africa]] for three ODIs from 4 to 8 November 2025 at the Iqbal Stadium, the first ODI at the stadium in 17 years, with Pakistan having beaten Bangladesh by seven wickets at the venue on 11 April, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/pakistan-to-host-south-africa-for-icc-world-test-championship-2025-27-from-12-october.html |title=Pakistan to host South Africa for ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 from 12 October |work=Pakistan Cricket Board |accessdate=7 September 2025}}</ref>

==Ground records==
*'''First Test:''' 1st Test, [[Pakistani cricket team|Pakistan]] vs. [[India national cricket team|India]], 16–21 October 1978.<ref name=":0" />
*'''First [[One Day International|ODI]]:''' Pakistan vs. [[New Zealand national cricket team|New Zealand]], 23 November 1984.<ref name=":0" />

===Tests===
*'''Highest innings total:''' 674/6 by Pakistan vs. India, October 1984.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=PAK: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Cricket Ground Test match team highest innings totals {{!}} ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/ground/team-highest-innings-totals/pak-iqbal-stadium-faisalabad-639/test-matches-1 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref>
*'''Lowest innings total:''' 53 all out by [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]] vs. Pakistan, October 1986.<ref name=":1" />
*'''Highest individual score:''' 253 by [[Sanath Jayasuriya]] for [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] vs. Pakistan, October 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PAK: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Cricket Ground Test match batting most runs innings {{!}} ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/ground/batting-most-runs-innings/pak-iqbal-stadium-faisalabad-639/test-matches-1 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref>
*'''Best bowling figures (match):''' 12/130 (7/76 & 5/54) by [[Waqar Younis]] for Pakistan vs. New Zealand, October 1990.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PAK: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Cricket Ground Test match bowling best figures match {{!}} ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/ground/bowling-best-figures-match/pak-iqbal-stadium-faisalabad-639/test-matches-1 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref>

===One-day internationals===
*'''Highest innings total:''' 314/7 (50 overs) by Pakistan vs. New Zealand, December 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PAK: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Cricket Ground ODI match team highest innings totals {{!}} ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/ground/team-highest-innings-totals/pak-iqbal-stadium-faisalabad-639/one-day-internationals-2 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref>
*'''Highest individual score:''' 123* by [[Quinton de Kock]] for South Africa vs. Pakistan, November 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PAK: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Cricket Ground ODI match batting most runs innings {{!}} ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/ground/batting-most-runs-innings/pak-iqbal-stadium-faisalabad-639/one-day-internationals-2 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref>
*'''Best bowling figures:''' 4/27 (4 overs) by [[Mudassar Nazar]] for Pakistan vs. New Zealand, November 1984.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PAK: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Cricket Ground ODI match bowling best figures innings {{!}} ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/ground/bowling-best-figures-innings/pak-iqbal-stadium-faisalabad-639/one-day-internationals-2 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Test cricket grounds]]
* [[List of stadiums in Pakistan]]
* [[List of cricket grounds in Pakistan]]
* [[List of sports venues in Faisalabad]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricket-grounds/iqbal-stadium-faisalabad-58927 ESPNcricinfo Website – Ground Page]

{{Cricket grounds in Pakistan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iqbal Stadium (Faisalabad)}}
[[Category:Faisalabad District]]
[[Category:Test cricket grounds in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Faisalabad]]
[[Category:Stadiums in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Cricket grounds in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Cricket in Faisalabad]]
[[Category:Memorials to Muhammad Iqbal]]

Iqbal Stadium - Revision history

Victoruot at 04:15, 25 March 2026