Situated in the centre of the Lahore metropolitan area is the Gaddafi Stadium, previously known as Lahore Stadium. It was originally designed in 1959 by the Russian-born Pakistani architect, Nasreddin Murat Khan, who is also famously known for designing the National Monument (Minar-e-Pakistan) in Iqbal Park, Lahore.
Currently, the stadium is hosting the third test match series between Pakistan and Australia.
Graana.com, Pakistan’s first online real estate marketplace, has covered the history, facts and main events in the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore below.
| Gaddafi Stadium Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Established | 1959 |
| Named After | Muammar Gaddafi, former Libyan leader |
| Capacity | Approximately 27,000 (expandable) |
| Purpose | Multi-purpose stadium for cricket |
| Notable Features | Iconic architecture, Pavilion End, Grand Stand, Media Center |
| Major Events Hosted | International and domestic cricket matches, including Test, ODI, and T20 |
| Renovations | Several renovations and upgrades over the years to meet international standards |
| Home Ground | Lahore Qalandars (PSL) |
| Significance | One of the oldest and most iconic cricket stadiums in Pakistan |
In 1974, the Lahore Stadium hosted the second summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, where the Libyan leader Colonel Muhammad Gadaffi addressed the summit. In his honour, the stadium was renamed to Gaddafi Stadium (or the colloquial Qazaffi Stadium).
The 1996 Cricket World Cup brought the next milestone for the stadium: Pakistan was to host 16 matches of the tournament, 4 of which were to be played in Gaddafi Stadium.
Architect Nayyar Ali Dada, a graduate of the National College of Arts, supervised the renovation of the stadium. He added a cultural touch by utilising the red hand-laid bricks and arches of the Mughal architecture.
The removal of plastic seats, and instalment of concrete benches, modern facilities for media coverage and floodlights with backup generators made the stadium more accessible. Additionally, there was a new press room with a seating capacity of 400 people, along with 30 hospitality rooms.
Other additions to the stadium were team chambers, a warm-up area, and gym facilities. Shops and offices replaced the lower portion of the stands. The stadium can now seat 27,000 spectators, and the pitch has been termed as a batting-friendly pitch.
Gaddafi Stadium is fairly easy to spot with its red brick boundary walls and prime location in Gulberg 3, where there are a number of sports academies and stadiums for cricket, football, hockey, tennis, and more.
Gaddafi Stadium is built on Hafeez Kardar Road, which is easily accessible via Ferozepur Road. The National Hockey Stadium and Punjab Athletics Stadium are directly opposite it, while the Punjab International Swimming Complex, Quaid-e-Azam International Cycling Velodrome, Punjab Institute of Language, Art & Culture, Alhamra Open Air Theatre, Nishtar Park Sports Complex, and National Cricket Academy are among the prominent landmarks surrounding the stadium.
Teams have set up records in all three cricket formats in the stadium. Listed below are some of the biggest cricket highlights:
Peter Petherick of New Zealand scored a hat-trick against Pakistan in 1976, Wasim Akram of Pakistan scored a hat-trick against Sri Lanka in 1999, and Mohammad Sami of Pakistan scored a hat-trick against Sri Lanka in 1999.
On the field, Pakistan has had some memorable moments, including a 281-run fifth-wicket stand between Javed Miandad and Asif Iqbal against New Zealand in 1976, and an innings and 324-run win against New Zealand in 2002.
In 2009, armed militants attacked the Sri Lankan team’s convoy at Liberty Roundabout near Gaddafi Stadium. This was during the second test match of the 2008–09 Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan. The Sri Lankan team was airlifted from the stadium to a nearby airbase. They returned to Sri Lanka, effectively ending international cricket in Pakistan.
In 2015, the Zimbabwe cricket team became the first Full Member nation (of the ICC) to tour Pakistan since 2009. The stadium hosted the final of the 2017 Pakistan Super League, and Pakistan easily won both the ODI and T20I series.
In August 2017, the PCB and the ICC began working together to improve international cricket in Pakistan. With that, PCB planned a World XI tour to Pakistan for three T20Is under heavy security.
International cricket is making a comeback in Pakistan and a series of matches between Pakistan and Australia is taking place at the Gaddafi Stadium. Following are the upcoming matches schedules at the Gaddafi Stadium:
| Format | Date | Time |
| T 20 | 5th April 2022 | 8:30 PM |
| ODI | 31sr March 2022 | 3:00 PM |
| ODI | 2nd April 2022 | 3:00 PM |
Here’s how you can book your tickets for the upcoming matches:
On 19 March 1972, the stadium was renamed in honour of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi by the then president of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto while addressing a public meeting in Lahore.
Gaddafi Stadium predominantly offers help to the batters. The surface is a flat one, with little help to the bowlers. However, the spinners do get some assistance from the pitch as the game progresses, but the pacers have to work their way out in Lahore.
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