Capacity 20,000 Establishment 2004 | Opened May 2004 Phone +971 2 558 8331 | |
Tenant Pakistan national cricket team Similar Dubai International Cricket St, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Wanderers Stadium, Basin Reserve, WACA Ground | ||
The Sheikh Zayed Stadium (Arabic: ملعب الكريكيت الشيخ زايد) is a cricket ground located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The stadium cost $23 million to build and was opened in May 2004, with its inaugural first-class match being an Intercontinental Cup fixture between Scotland and Kenya in November of that year.
Contents
- IPL Indian Premier League
- Friendship Series Pakistan vs India
- Other competitions
- Domestic fixtures
- References
The stadium is dominated by two large stands at either end, with the areas square of the wicket offering grass banks for additional seating. It can hold 20,000 people.
IPL (Indian Premier League)
The first half of the 2014 Indian Premier League was held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium.
Friendship Series (Pakistan vs India)
Among the stadium's most memorable events were the back-to-back charity matches between rivals Pakistan and India in April 2006. These matches were significant as the arch-rivals put aside their differences to support the victims of the 2005 Pakistan earthquake. The series was expected to raise $10 million for earthquake relief. B.R. Shetty, of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council, said: "Of the total money raised, 75 percent will go to Pakistan and the rest to India".
Other competitions
Many international series have been played there. Following the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team, Pakistan was unable to host home matches at the stadium. However, Zimbabwe successfully toured Pakistan from May 19–31, 2015, playing five matches in Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Pakistan has hosted series against Australia, England, West Indies, New Zealand and South Africa at this stadium. Because of the Indian general election, the first leg of 2014's Indian Premier League was played there as well as in Dubai DSC Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium.
Domestic fixtures
In 2009 the stadium hosted numerous cricket games, mostly fixtures in the Nissan Gulf Cup, where domestic teams from England and India competed against each other for the title. In March 2009, Sussex, Lancashire, Middlesex and Surrey played pre-season friendlies there.
In 2012 Pakistan played one test and two one day games against England.