Having hosted a total of nine Pakistan Super League 2023 matches earlier this year, Gaddafi Stadium is back in all readiness to host international cricket for the first time in 2023. Lahore, which had hosted each international format of the sport last year, will now be hosting the first three of a five-match T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand starting from tonight.
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Pakistan, who have participated in each of the 18 T20Is played here over the years, have won 10 and lost eight matches to have a decent record at this venue. New Zealand, on the other hand, will be playing their first-ever T20I in this city on Friday. Speaking of the other two formats, the Kiwis have won twice but lost nine times out of their 12 matches here. That said, they haven’t a match here in the last two decades.
Gaddafi Stadium Lahore T20 Records (updated on April 16, 2023)
Highest T20I run-scorers at the Gaddafi Stadium are Babar Azam (647), Mohammad Rizwan (353), Ahmed Shehzad (261), Shoaib Malik (217) and Iftikhar Ahmed (193). Speaking of active cricketers, the likes of Tamim Iqbal (159), David Miller (157), Dawid Malan (140), Fakhar Zaman (140), Imad Wasim (115) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (112) have also done well here.
Highest wicket-takers in Lahore T20Is are Haris Rauf (15), Shadab Khan (11), Wanindu Hasaranga (8), Wasim (8), Nuwan Pradeep (7) and Mohammad Amir (7). Shaheen Shah Afridi (7), Tabraiz Shamsi (6), David Willey (6), Usman Qadir (6) and Mohammad Hasnain (6) are among other active bowlers who have dismissed more than five batters in the shortest format at this stadium.
Highest Innings Totals and Successful Run Chases in Lahore T20Is (updated on April 16, 2023)
Score | Overs | Team | Opposition | Year |
209/3 | 20 | England | Pakistan | 2002 |
197/5 | 20 | Pakistan | World XI | 2017 |
192/4 | 20 | Pakistan | New Zealand | 2023 |
183/4 | 20 | Pakistan | World XI | 2017 |
182 | 19.5 | Pakistan | New Zealand | 2023 |
Historically, the 200-run mark has been crossed only once across 40 T20I innings at this venue. However, the feat was achieved four times during PSL 8.
Toss is unlikely to have any real effect on the result of the match primarily due to Gaddafi Stadium’s flat and batting-friendly surface. There can’t be a bigger evidence regarding the same other than the fact that teams batting first and second have won 11 and nine T20Is respectively at this stadium.
Pakistan hold the record for the highest successful T20I run-chase in the city on the back of chasing down a 176-run target with two wickets and as many balls remaining in a match against Zimbabwe played almost eight years ago.