Sharjah cricket stadium is tremendously essential for UAE because of its increasing prominence in international cricket. It was the dream of Mr. Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, who wanted to form a ground to represent the best cricket players of Asia. Till now, the ground has arranged some exciting matches for the audience and marked its name in the world record.
| Built In: | 1982 |
| Capacity: | 27,000 |
| Home Teams: | UAE Afghanistan |
| End Names: | Pavilion End Sharjah Club |
| Boundary: | 62M Long On 58M Straight 65M Mid-wicket |
Table of Contents
History
The dream of Sharjah cricket ground came true to life in the 1980s, and in 1982, it became the first ground in the country solely for cricket. The first international match was held on 6 April 1984 between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Due to the popularity of one-day international games, Sharjah cricket stadium speedily made its way to renowned stadiums.
In the early 2000s, a significant decrease in international matches was seen due to match-fixing scandals. Although none of those scandals was proved still, in 2001, India banned its national team from playing on the ground. Finally, the ground came back to life in 2010 by gaining attention from Pakistan and its associates.
Capacity
Watching games in the stadium is fun, but the time can go downhill if its atmosphere is congested. This problem is diminished because Sharjah increased its seating capacity to 27000 people. Presently, it has single-tier seating.
Seating Plan
The seats of this arena are spacious, and a vast part is used for the general public. The east, west, and north wings are available for standard seating. While the south end consists of a diamond box, grandstand, corporate box, and members’ enclosure.
Building
The top-tier pavilion end is updated to provide luxury facilities and a magical environment for upcoming matches. 11 VIP suites and a spacious VIP dining area are also constructed to facilitate the spectators. Improvised hospitality features, parking, and wide gate area make the place more inviting to the visitors.
Parking
Sharjah cricket stadium is surrounded by various visiting spots such as Sharjah park, academy, etc. These spots provide free parking but you would have to walk a little to get to the stadium. If you want to save a spot near the stadium then get a paid parking spot or don’t fall behind the traffic and reach early.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The flat pitch of this stadium is smaller compared to other venues. It has little to no grass, providing an edge to the batsmen to score high. The high-scoring flat track makes the ball come straight to the bat, thus, causing the bowlers to fail.
Notable Events
Sharjah played an essential role in Pakistan’s cricket. Due to the dire security situation in Pakistan, most of their matches, including Test matches with Australia, West Indies, and New Zealand, were held at Sharjah cricket stadium. Afghanistan also uses this as a home ground for test matches and a neutral base. Quetta Gladiators and Multan Sultans used this stadium mostly during PSL matches.
- In 2017, it inaugurated the T10 cricket league that is claimed to be the future of cricket. It is a 90-minute matches league that took place from 14 to 17 December.
- The final of the 2018 blind cricket world cup also took place in this stadium between India and Pakistan, where India won by two wickets and secured the cup.
- On 19 February 2018, Sharjah cricket stadium made its name to Guinness book of world record for hosting the most ODI’s with 236 matches on the same venue.
- It remains third on the list of grounds for arranging the most international matches.
- It was the host ground for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 remaining matches.
| First Test: | 31 Jan – 04 Feb, 2002 |
| First ODI: | 6 April, 1984 |
| First T20I: | 3 March, 2013 |
| Highest Test Score: | 690/10 by NZ vs PAK (2014) |
| Lowest Test Score: | 53/10 by PAK vs AUS (2002) |
| Highest ODI Score: | 364/7 by PAK vs NZ (2014) |
| Lowest ODI Score: | 54/10 by IND vs SL (2000) |
| Highest T20 Score: | 215/6 by AFG vs ZIM (2016) |
| Lowest T20 Score: | 90/10 by AFG vs NED (2013) |
Upcoming Events
For the upcoming events, we are going to see some fantastic matches on this ground.
- According to ICC, Sharjah cricket stadium will be hosting 11 matches for the 2022 Men’s T20 World Cup.
Oct 22, Fri – Namibia vs Ireland – 02:00 PM (LOCAL)
Oct 22, Fri – Sri Lanka vs Netherlands – 06:00 PM (LOCAL)
Oct 24, Sun – A1 vs B2 – 02:00 PM (LOCAL)
Oct 25, Mon – Afghanistan vs B1 – 06:00 PM (LOCAL)
Oct 26, Tue – Pakistan vs New Zealand – 06:00 PM (LOCAL)
Oct 29, Fri – West Indies vs B2 – 02:00 PM (LOCAL)
Oct 30, Sat – South Africa vs A1 – 02:00 PM (LOCAL)
Nov 01, Mon – England vs A1 – 06:00 PM (LOCAL)
Nov 05, Fri – New Zealand vs A2 – 02:00 PM (LOCAL)
Nov 06, Sat – England vs South Africa – 06:00 PM (LOCAL)
Nov 07, Sun – Pakistan vs B1 – 06:00 PM (LOCAL)
Map/Location
Here is the complete address of Sharjah Cricket Stadium:
Second Industrial St – Industrial Area 5
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
