Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium

Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium
شعیب اختر سٹیڈیم
Interactive map of Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium
Former names
KRL Cricket Stadium
LocationKRL Road, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
Coordinates33°37′08″N 73°06′20″E / 33.61895893598604°N 73.10558050908493°E / 33.61895893598604; 73.10558050908493
OwnerKhan Research Laboratories
Tenants
Khan Research Laboratories cricket team
Pakistan national cricket team

The Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, formerly known as the Khan Research Laboratories Cricket Stadium, is a cricket ground in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. It has hosted domestic first-class and limited-overs cricket and has served as a home ground of the Khan Research Laboratories cricket team. The venue is distinct from the KRL Football Stadium.

At first named after Pakistan's nuclear enrichment facility Khan Research Laboratories, it was renamed Shoaib Akhtar Stadium in honour of the tearaway Pakistani fast bowler in March 2021.

History

Recorded matches at the ground were held since the 1987–88 season, and it was named as Khan Research Laboratories Ground and Dr AQ Khan Ground. By January 1992, it was being used for representative cricket, including a match between Islamabad Under-19s and England Under-19s.

The venue subsequently staged first-class and List A fixtures involving departmental and regional teams.

The ground continued to be used for major domestic cricket during the 2000s and 2010s. It hosted Patron's Cup cricket in February 2006, and was among the venues for the 2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Matches were also transferred there during the 2020 National Under-19 Tournament after weather disrupted the Lahore programme.

The name was changed to Shoaib Akhtar Stadium in March 2021. It remained a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy venue in the 2025–26 season.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Khan Research Laboratories Ground, Rawalpindi". CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  2. ↑ "Schedule Of President Trophy Grade I , Inter Reg/Dep one day & three day tournaments". pcb.com.pk. 27 September 2012.
  3. ↑ Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports (8 November 2012). "Army win to draw level with KRL". Dawn. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  4. ↑ "Kaleemullah, Sanaullah record hat-tricks". Dawn. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Rawalpindi KRL Stadium renamed after Shoaib Akhtar". The News International. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  6. ↑ "England Under-19s in Pakistan 1991/92". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  7. ↑ "Nationwide uniform pitches can promote cricket in Pakistan". ESPNcricinfo. 8 March 2000. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  8. ↑ "Patron's Cup One-day from today". Dawn. 4 February 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  9. ↑ "Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2019/20". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  10. ↑ Ali, Sohail (12 November 2020). "National U19 Tournament matches shifted to Islamabad and Rawalpindi". Associated Press of Pakistan. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  11. ↑ "WAPDA–KRL match tied in President's Cup". Pakistan Cricket Board. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  12. ↑ "PCB announces Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025–26". Business Recorder. 30 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2026.