Gaddafi Stadium is one of the most famous cricket stadium in Pakistan. which is situated in Lahore, pakistan. It hosts the Pakistan Cricket Board and the national team and Lahore Qalandars. The stadium is a symbol of the cricketing power and culture of Pakistan, as it hosted the World Cup Final in 1996 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
In this Article, We will discuss about the Gaddafi Stadium, History, Pitch Reports, Records and Matches, Weather, Ticket Pricing and More
Gaddafi Stadium: Overview
Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is the largest cricket stadium in Pakistan, but it is also one of the most symbolic world cricket venues. The stadium was built in 1959 and has been a part of cricketing history since then. The stadium is situated in central Lahore, the base of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the Pakistan National Team and the Lahore Qalandars of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
It was renovated at the time it hosted the final match of the 1996 Cricket World Cup. It has a contemporary appearance following the 2024-25 refurbishment and is now a genuine world-class arena.
| About Stadium | Details |
| Name | Gaddafi Stadium |
| Formerly known as | Lahore Stadium |
| Location | Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Established | 1959 |
| Architect by | Nasreddin Murat-Khan |
| Renovations | 1995–96, 2024–25 |
| Tenants | Pakistan National Team Lahore Qalandars Central Punjab Lahore Regional Team |
| Pavilions’ ends | Jinnah End & Iqbal End |
| Floodlights | Yes (modern LED, upgraded 2025) |
| Seating capacity | 34000 |
| Special Note | PCB headquarters located inside the stadium |
Ownership & Management
| Aspect | Details |
| Ownership | Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) |
| Management | Operated by PCB with direct governance |
| Funding | Financed by PCB without external government aid |
| Upgrade Timeline | Completed in just 117 days before Champions Trophy 2025 |
| Leadership | Project led by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi with ICC coordination |
Gaddafi Stadium Historical Journey
Construction in 1959
- The architect was a man known as Nasreddin Murat-Khan; the stadium was originally referred to as Lahore Stadium.
- Together with Mian Abdul Khaliq and Company, construction was finished.
Renaming in 1972
- On 19 March 1972, President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto renamed it Gaddafi Stadium in honor of Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader.
- Name has been widely discussed and PCB has also indicated that it may change its name post the 2025 champions trophy.
Redesign for World Cup 1996
- It was redesigned by architect Nayyar Ali Dada, who used brick arches, a Mughal-style appearance and substituted the use of concrete benches with plastic seating.
- The comfort and safety capacity decreased to 27,000 as compared to 65,250.
Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Report
The Lahore pitch at Gaddafi Stadium is famous for being batting-friendly, but bowlers get support in night games.
| Aspect | Report |
| Surface | Flat, batting-friendly |
| Bounce | True bounce, good for stroke play |
| Spinners | Come into play in 2nd innings of Tests |
| Pacers | Benefit under lights with swing |
| Average 1st Innings ODI Score | 270–280 |
| Average 1st Innings T20I Score | 165–170 |
| Strategy | Bat first in day games, bowl first in night matches |
Renovations & Upgrades (2024–25)
- In a prelude to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, PCB made a massive redevelopment.
- Seating Capacity increased to 34,000.
- New pavilions renamed Jinnah End and Iqbal End, moat security, LED floodlights and replay screens.
- On 7 February 2025, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the renovated stadium and many artists, such as Ali Zafar, Arif Lohar, and Aima Baig, performed in the show.
| Upgrades | Details |
| Seating Expansion | 21,500 → 34,000 |
| Pavilion Names | Jinnah End, Iqbal End |
| Floodlights | New LED lights installed |
| Digital Screens | Large replay boards added |
| Moat System | Fence-free viewing with a safety moat |
| PCB Office | Newly built headquarters |
| Accessibility | Modern walkways, ramps, and player facilities |
First Matches Played at Gaddafi Stadium
First Matches
| Format | Match | Date | Winner |
| Test | Pakistan vs Australia (1st Test match) | 21–26 Nov 1959 | Australia won by 7 wickets |
| ODI | Pakistan vs England (1st ODI) | 13 Jan 1978 | England won |
| T20I | Pakistan vs Zimbabwe | 22 May 2015 | Pakistan won by 5 wickets |
| 2004 India-Pakistan Series | India vs Pakistan | 11 March-16 April, 2024 | India Won the 3-test match series by 2-1 |
| India Won the ODI 5-match series by 3-2 | |||
| Wills Golden Jubilee Tournament Final | Pakistan vs South Africa | November 1997 | South africa won by 4 wickets. |
Historic Events at Gaddafi Stadium
- 1996 Cricket world cup Final– Sri Lanka defeated Australia to win their first world cup.
- India 2004 Friendship Series—After a gap of 15 years, India came back to give a full series, reestablishing cricketing contacts.
- 2009 Terror Attack on Sri lanka Team—On March 3, 2009, in Pakistan, the Sri Lanka team convoy was attacked by terrorists in an area close to the stadium and international cricket was stopped.
- Return of Cricket (Zimbabwe tour 2015) In May 2015, Zimbabwe was the first Full Member team in 6 years to visit Pakistan for International cricket matches.
- PSL 2017 Final—The inaugural major cricket event to take place following the attack and international cricket was not halted any longer.
Gaddafi Stadium Weather Reports
Weather plays a big role in cricket at Lahore.
| Season | Temp Range | Rain Chance | Impact |
| Winter (Nov–Feb) | 10–20°C | Low | Best time for cricket |
| Spring (Mar–Apr) | 18–28°C | Moderate | Balanced weather |
| Summer (May–Aug) | 30–42°C | High (Monsoon) | Matches shift to night |
| Autumn (Sep–Oct) | 20–30°C | Low | Dry and batting-friendly |
For the Champions Trophy 2025, February and March offered pleasant, dry evenings, perfect for high-scoring cricket.
Gaddafi Stadium Ticket Information
Tickets for matches at Gaddafi Stadium are available on PCB’s website, outlets, and partner apps.
| Stand | Price Range (PKR) |
| General Enclosure | 500–1,000 |
| Premium Enclosure | 2,000–3,000 |
| VIP Pavilion | 5,000 – 7,500 |
| Corporate Box | 15,000–25,000 |
Note: Prices may vary depending on match type (PSL, ICC, or bilateral series).
Cricket World Cup Matches Played at Gaddafi Stadium
| Date | Match | Result | Player of the Match |
| 16 Oct 1987 | West Indies 216 (50) vs Pakistan 217/9 (50) | Pakistan won by 1 wicket | Saleem Yousuf (Pakistan) |
| 4 Nov 1987 | Australia 267/6 (50) vs Pakistan 249 (49.2) | Australia won by 18 runs | Craig McDermott (Australia) |
| 26 Feb 1996 | Netherlands 145/7 (50) vs Pakistan 151/2 (30.4) | Pakistan won by 8 wickets | Waqar Younis (Pak) |
| 1 Mar 1996 | Netherlands 216/9 (50) vs UAE 220/3 (44.2) | UAE won by 7 wickets | Shaukat Dukanwala (UAE) |
| 6 Mar 1996 | Pakistan 281/5 (50) vs New Zealand 235 (47.3) | Pakistan won by 46 runs | Saleem Malik (Pak) |
| 17 Mar 1996 (Final) | Australia 241/7 (50) vs Sri Lanka 245/3 (46.2) | Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets | Aravinda de Silva (SL) |
Gaddafi Stadium Records in all Format
Test Records
| Record | Player/Team | Details |
| Highest Team Score | Pakistan – 699/5 | vs India, 1989 |
| Lowest Team Score | New Zealand – 73 | vs Pakistan, 2002 |
| Highest Individual Score | Inzamam-ul-Haq – 329 | vs New Zealand, 2002 |
ODI Records
| Record | Player/Team | Details |
| Highest Team Score | Pakistan – 375/3 | vs Zimbabwe, 2015 |
| Lowest Team Score | Pakistan – 75 | vs Sri Lanka, 2009 |
| Highest Individual Score | Ibrahim Zadran – 177 | vs England, 2025 |
T20I Records
| Record | Player/Team | Details |
| Highest Team Score | England – 209/3 | vs Pakistan, 2022 |
| Lowest Team Score | New Zealand – 94 | vs Pakistan, 2023 |
| Highest Individual Score | Mohammad Haris – 107* | vs Bangladesh, 2025 |
Domestic Cricket at Gaddafi
- Regular matches: Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
- A major comeback of major cricket occurred with the PSL 2017 Final at Lahore.
- It is used as the home ground by the Lahore Qalandars.
- There are regular domestic T20 tournaments and regional championships held here.
2025 ICC Champions Trophy Matches at Gaddafi Stadium
The stadium hosted 4 matches, including a semi-final.
| Date | Match | Result |
| 22 Feb 2025 | England vs Australia | Australia won by 5 wickets |
| 26 Feb 2025 | Afghanistan vs England | Afghanistan won by 8 runs |
| 28 Feb 2025 | Afghanistan vs Australia | No result (due to rain) |
| 5 Mar 2025 | Semi-final: New Zealand vs South Africa | New Zealand won by 45 runs |
Gaddafi Stadium’s Comparison with Major Stadiums
| Stadium | Capacity | Strengths |
| Gaddafi Stadium Comparison (2025) | 34000 | modernized, with focused upgrades (LED, security, hospitality) for ICC 2025 |
| Dubai International Stadium (UAE) | 25,000 (expandable to 30,000) | “Ring of Fire” roof lighting, premium suites, neutral ICC host |
| Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad, India) | 132,000 | World’s largest, column-free design, metro connectivity, PTFE roof, full rebuild in 2020 |
Hospitality & Services
| Facility | Details |
| VIP/VVIP | New enclosures, luxury seating, proximity to player areas |
| Hospitality Boxes | Upgraded and expanded with premium amenities |
| Spectator Comfort | Modern seating, improved concourses, better sightlines |
| Media Operations | Enhanced press boxes and commentary rooms |
Cultural and Social Significance
- Concert hall, national holidays and political meetings.
- In 1996, it was redesigned to provide it with an architectural mix of Mughal Lahore.
- The opening of the 2025 event saw some of the biggest stars of Pakistan, such as Ali Zafar, Arif Lohar and Aima Baig, performing, representing the culture of Pakistan.
Accessibility & Inclusivity
| Aspect | Details |
| Entry | Biometric entry gates for faster access |
| Safety | High-tech CCTV for security monitoring |
| Sightlines | High fencing reduced/removed for better viewing |
| Crowd Management | Streamlined circulation and signage upgrades |
| ICC Standards | Venue upgraded to meet ICC handover requirements |
Upcoming Matches (2025–26) at Gaddafi Stadium
| Date | Fixture | Format |
| Sep 2025 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | 2 Tests |
| Nov 2025 | Pakistan vs England | 3 ODIs |
| Feb 2026 | PSL 11 Opening & Matches | T20 |
| Mar 2026 | Asia Cup (if hosted in Pakistan) | ODIs |
Conclusion
Gaddafi Stadium Lahore is not just a sports facility but it is the heartbeat of Pakistan cricket. Since it hosted its first Test in 1959 to international cricket being hosted again after 2009, and finally Pakistan taking pride in hosting the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, it has been a marking moment in the cricketing history of the country.
Gaddafi Stadium is a citadel of cricket in South Asia and has the power to hold many other classic games in the years ahead due to the modern facilities, world-class design and bright future.
