Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pakistan’s Legendary Fortress

Gaddafi Stadium, formerly referred to as Lahore Stadium, is a prominent cricket venue located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, and is owned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). With a seating capacity of 34,000, it stands as the largest cricket stadium in Pakistan. The headquarters of the Pakistan Cricket Board are based at Gaddafi Stadium, establishing it as the home ground for the Pakistan national cricket team. Additionally, it serves as the home field for the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League. The stadium is named in honor of Libyan revolutionary Muammar Gaddafi.

The design of Gaddafi Stadium was created by Russian born Pakistani architect and civil engineer Nasreddin Murat-Khan, with construction carried out by Mian Abdul Khaliq and Company in 1959. The venue underwent renovations for the 1996 Cricket World Cup, during which it hosted the final. It was the first cricket stadium in Pakistan to feature modern floodlights, complete with their own backup power generators. The Gaddafi Stadium boundary length is approximately 75 yards, making it one of the larger grounds in international cricket.

Beyond hosting home games for Pakistan and various international matches, Gaddafi Stadium has also been the venue for several matches in the Pakistan Super League, with the inaugural match being the final of the 2017 edition. In March 2022, the PCB initiated plans to rename the stadium for sponsorship purposes. In June 2024, the PCB announced that Gaddafi Stadium would undergo upgrades in preparation for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Construction of the Stadium

Constructed in 1959, the stadium was designed by architect and civil engineer Nasreddin Murat Khan, with the building work finalized by Mian Abdul Khaliq and Company. Initially, it was known as the Lahore Stadium. The Lahore cricket stadium has since undergone several upgrades to improve facilities and accommodate modern cricketing need

Renovation and Upgrades of Gaddafi Stadium

1995-96 Renovation

During the 1995-96 season, Gaddafi Stadium underwent a major renovation led by architect Nayyar Ali Dada, an alumnus of the National College of Arts. The upgrades were carried out in preparation for the 1996 Cricket World Cup. Dada’s design incorporated hand-laid red brickwork and elegant arches, enhancing the stadium’s aesthetic appeal. Additionally, concrete benches were replaced with plastic seating for greater comfort. The lower areas beneath the stands were enclosed and repurposed into boutiques and office spaces. Before the redesign, the stadium could accommodate 65,250 spectators, but modifications to the enclosures reduced the seating capacity to 27,000.

2024-2025 Renovation for ICC Champions Trophy

In June 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a major renovation plan for Gaddafi Stadium to prepare it for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The proposed upgrades included:

• New Pavilion Building
• Re-profiling of Enclosures: Stands were moved 20 feet closer to the playing field.
• Removal of Fencing: Traditional barriers were replaced with a moat for an improved viewing experience.
• Seating Capacity Expansion: Increased from 21,500 to over 34,000.
• New Replay Screens: Enhanced match coverage for spectators.
• LED Floodlights: Replacing old floodlights for better visibility.
• PCB Headquarters: A newly built head office for the Pakistan Cricket Board within the stadium premises.

The project was initially scheduled for completion by December 25, 2024, but minor delays pushed the final date ahead by a month.

After the renovation, Gaddafi Stadium was transformed into one of the most state of the art cricket venues in the world. The grand inauguration ceremony took place on February 7, 2025, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The event featured spectacular performances celebrating Pakistan’s rich culture, with renowned artists such as Arif Lohar, Ali Zafar, and Aima Baig entertaining the crowd.

Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Report

Gaddafi Stadium’s pitch is traditionally known to favor batters, offering good bounce and carry. However, spinners have also found success in the later stages of Test matches. With the recent upgrades, the pitch has been fine tuned to provide a balance between bat and ball, ensuring competitive encounters.

Gaddafi Stadium Map

Located in the heart of Lahore, Gaddafi Stadium is easily accessible via major roads and highways. The Gaddafi Stadium map showcases its prime location in the Gulberg area, making it a central attraction for cricket fans and tourists alike.

International Cricket History

Hat-Tricks at Gaddafi Stadium

Year	Player	Team	Opponent	Date
1976	Peter Petherick	New Zealand	Pakistan	9 October 1976
1999	Wasim Akram	Pakistan	Sri Lanka	6 March 1999
2002	Mohammad Sami	Pakistan	Sri Lanka	–

Pakistan’s Memorable Moments

Year	Players Involved	Team	Opponent	Record
1976	Javed Miandad & Asif Iqbal	Pakistan	New Zealand	5th wicket stand of 281 runs
2002	Pakistan Team	Pakistan	New Zealand	Won by an innings and 324 runs

First Matches at Gaddafi Stadium

First Test Match (1959)

Date	Teams	Result	Key Players
21-26 Nov 1959	Pakistan vs Australia	Australia won by 7 wickets	Richie Benaud, Alan Davidson

First ODI (1978)

Date	Teams	Result
13 Jan 1978	Pakistan vs England	England won by 6 wickets

1996 Cricket World Cup Final

Date	Teams	Result	Venue
17 March 1996	Sri Lanka vs Australia	Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Records at Gaddafi Stadium

Test Cricket Records

Record Type	Team	Opponent	Record	Year
Highest Team Total	Pakistan	India	699/5	1989
Lowest Team Total	New Zealand	Pakistan	73	2002
Highest Individual Score	Inzamam-ul-Haq	New Zealand	329	2002

One Day International (ODI) Records

Record Type	Team	Opponent	Record	Date
Highest Team Total	Pakistan	Zimbabwe	375/3	26 May 2015
Lowest Team Total	Pakistan	Sri Lanka	75	22 Jan 2009
Highest Individual Score	Ijaz Ahmed	India	139*	2 Oct 1997

T20 International (T20I) Records

Record Type	Team	Opponent	Record	Date
Highest Team Total	England	Pakistan	209/3	2 Oct 2022
Lowest Team Total	Pakistan	Sri Lanka	101	5 Oct 2019
Highest Individual Score	Mohammad Rizwan	South Africa	104*	11 Feb 2021

Cricket World Cup Matches Hosted at Gaddafi Stadium

1987 Cricket World Cup

Date	Teams	Winner	Margin
16 Oct 1987	Pakistan vs West Indies	Pakistan	1 wicket
4 Nov 1987	Pakistan vs Australia	Australia	18 runs

1996 Cricket World Cup

Date	Teams	Winner	Margin
26 Feb 1996	Pakistan vs Netherlands	Pakistan	8 wickets
1 March 1996	UAE vs Netherlands	UAE	7 wickets
6 March 1996	Pakistan vs New Zealand	Pakistan	46 runs

1996 Cricket World Cup Final

Date	Teams	Winner	Margin
17 March 1996	Sri Lanka vs Australia	Sri Lanka	7 wickets

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