National Stadium        

Karachi, Pakistan

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Karachi, Pakistan's largest and most populous city, presents an interesting and colourful combination of the old and new. The National Stadium became Karachi's fifth and Pakistan's 11th first-class ground. The inaugural first-class match was played at NSK between Pakistan and India on April 21-24, 1955, and it became a fortress of Pakistan cricket. In 34 Tests between that first match and December 2000, Pakistan won 17 and were never beaten. Their only Test defeat on the ground came in the gloom against England in 2000-01. Since then, major terrorist activity, mainly bombings, have meant that non Asian sides have refused to play in the city, and in five years only Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have visited. It is a shame because the spectators are passionate - and noisy - and it is a great place to play and watch.

The first ODI at the National Stadium was against West Indies on November 21, 1980, and it went down to the last ball as Gordon Greenidge drove Imran imperiously to the cover boundary with three needed. It has been a far less successful limited-overs venue, with defeats outnumbering victories. In fact, in a little under five years from the start of 1996, Pakistan failed to win on the ground. It also staged a quarter-final match in the 1996-97 World Cup.
Cricinfo staff December 2005

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Latest Articles

• Australians get stoned (Oct 4, 2008)
• Venues will be ready in time - PCB (Aug 5, 2008)
• Facelift for Champions Trophy venues (Aug 3, 2008)
• Australia could play in Karachi (Jan 21, 2008)
• Cluttered home season hampers venue renovation (Jun 15, 2007)

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Latest Photos

Jan 21, 2009

A view of the National Stadium
© Sohail Abbas

Jan 8, 2008

Ground staff at the National Stadium during the rain interval
© Faras Ghani

Dec 27, 2005

The Indian security delegation inspects the National Stadium in Karachi
© AFP

Dec 13, 2005

Panoramic view of the National Stadium at night
© Getty Images

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