The Bahawal Stadium is a cricket ground in Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan. Locally known as Dring Stadium, it is a multi-purpose stadium used mostly for staging cricket games. Situated on Stadium Road, opposite Bahawalpur Zoo, the stadium can accommodate 15,000 spectators.[1]

Bahawal Stadium
Dring Stadium
Ground information
LocationStadium Road, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan
Coordinates29°24′15″N 71°41′04″E / 29.40417°N 71.68444°E / 29.40417; 71.68444
Establishment1954
Capacity15,000
OwnerPakistan Cricket Board
OperatorPakistan Cricket Board
TenantsPakistan
International information
Only Test15 January 1955:
 Pakistan v  India
As of 1 January 2017
Source: Cricinfo

It is one of the stadiums in Asia that hold all games at one place. Besides being used for cricket, hockey and football, the stadium also includes a swimming pool, a karate venue, gym, as well as squash, volleyball and tennis courts.

History edit

The stadium was originally called Dring Stadium and was named after the second Prime Minister of Bahawalpur, Sir John Dring.[2] Dring was Prime Minister under Nawab Sadiq V and served in this role from 1948 to 1952.[3] Dring Stadium was ahead of its time and was the only complete stadium in Pakistan at the time.[2]

International venue edit

It was the first cricket ground in West Pakistan to host a Test match, when it hosted the second Test of Indian cricket team in Pakistan in 1954–55, India's inaugural tour of Pakistan. However, this was the only Test match to be held at this ground.[4] As of 2002, 155 first class matches[5] and 23 List A matches have been played at this ground.[6]

Present edit

As Bahawalpur's cricket team has been without first-class status since 2002–03, there was only one first-class match and one List A match here for the three seasons following that, but the ground still hosts Under-19 matches. Bahawal stadium was a war place before.

This stadium also ranked in Asia's second largest stadium by area.

International centuries edit

One Test century has been scored at the venue.[7]

No. Score Player Team Balls Opposing team Date Result
1 142 Hanif Mohammad   Pakistan NA   India 15 January 1955 Drawn

International five-wicket hauls edit

Two five-wicket hauls in Test matches have been taken at the venue.[7]

No. Bowler Date Team Opposing team Inn Overs Runs Wkts Econ Result
1 Khan Mohammad 15 January 1955   Pakistan   India 1 33 74 5 2.24 Drawn
2 Polly Umrigar 15 January 1955   India   Pakistan 2 58 74 6 1.27 Drawn

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "The Dring Stadium | Sports | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk.
  2. ^ a b Samiuddin, Osman (2014) The Unquiet Ones: A History of Pakistan Cricket, Delhi:HarperCollins Publishers India
  3. ^ Shah, Nazeer Ali (1959) Sadiqnamah: The History of Bahawalpur State, Lahore: Maktaba Jadieed
  4. ^ "Bahawal Stadium". ESPN Cricinfo. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  5. ^ First-Class Matches played on Bahawal Stadium, Bahawalpur (155), from cricketarchive.com, retrieved 16 March 2006
  6. ^ List A Limited Overs Matches played in Pakistan at Bahawalpur (Bahawal Stadium) (23), from cricketarchive.com, retrieved 16 March 2006
  7. ^ a b "India tour of Pakistan, 2nd Test: Pakistan v India at Bahawalpur, Jan 15-18, 1955". Retrieved 1 January 2017.

Further references edit