Multan Cricket Stadium: Seating Capacity, History, Location Etc.
Located in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan is the Multan Cricket Stadium, an Pakistani multi-purpose sports stadium used mostly for cricket and association football. It was established in 2001 and was built as a replacement for the Qasim Bagh stadium. It is a regular venue for international cricket. It is the home ground of the Odisha cricket team. The stadium is owned by Pakistan Cricket Board and operated by the Southern Punjab Cricket Association. The cricket venue is equipped with floodlights for day-and-night games. For Pakistan Super League matches, Multan Sultans use this as their Home Ground.
History
When Pakistan took on Bangladesh in the Asian Test Championship in 2001, Multan Cricket Stadium hosted its first Test match. Multan Cricket Stadium, which boasts one of the greenest outfields in Pakistan, was also home to one of the most memorable Pakistan-India Tests when Virender Sehwag smashed a career-best 309 to enable India to defeat Pakistan by an innings. Floodlights are also installed at the 30,000-capacity stadium to allow for day-night matches. The floodlights, however, were not required for the inaugural match as India comfortably defeated Pakistan.
Location
It is located in the suburbs of Multan in the vicinity of Vehari Road.
Seating Capacity
Though being an old stadium this venue has the capacity to accommodate 39000 spectators.
Pitch Details
Multan has been known for its flat pitch, and it doesn't offer many demons for batters. The pacers in Multan haven't seen any lateral movement or swing. Generally speaking, it's an excellent wicket for batting, the batters may have to start slowly, but once they get used to the bounce, they can play.
Eight one-day internationals have been played in Multan, with a first-innings average of 250 runs. Five of the matches were won by chasing teams. Although seven of these matches were played quite earlier, it is clear that the teams would like to chase in Multan.
Interesting Facts
It is the second largest cricket stadium in Pakistan with a seating capacity of 30,000. The largest cricket ground of the country is in Karachi that can accommodate around 35,000 cricket fans.
As part of the Pakistan-India Test Match in 2004, Sehwag batted a record score of 309 runs during his innings.
The last T20 PSL match took place in February, 2020.
It is the second largest cricket stadium in Pakistan with a seating capacity of 30,000. Because of its close proximity to the ground, cricket fans can watch the players up close.
The Multan Cricket Stadium hosted its first Test in 2001 and the last ODI was held in 2006.
The Multan Cricket Stadium underwent renovations in 2018 to hold PSL matches
As Zimbabwe's Cricket Team visits Pakistan in October, 2020 to play a series, international matches will be played at Multan Cricket Stadium after a 12-year absence.
