Most of the stadiums across the cricketing globe witnessed a rich history and had offered a lot in contemporary times while showcasing and eventually reflecting the culture-cum-tradition and for Pakistani spectators, Lahore is the home of cricket and the main source for the return of international cricket for the cricket-starved fans.
The stadia have further brought memories to the professionals, be it of hosting the hundredth Test, a bowler claiming a hat-trick or a top-notch team lifting the coveted title in a humdinger.
However, in the same way, better late than never, the stadium in Lahore has scripted its name in record books after hosting the major game following the prolonged gap between Sarfraz Ahmed-led Pakistan and Faf du Plessis’ World XI recognized by the world cricket governing body ICC and has been accorded the international status to the 20-over format.
The most-populous city after Karachi, Lahore has had witnessed a major gridlock on major roads during the cricket match, as barriers were erected at multiple intersections for the security measures which further led to the iconic stadium which has the right history of Mughal period.
As the timeline between 2009-2017 has witnessed a lot in Pakistan owing to the political turmoil and tensions escalated at borders, the Lahore stadium is being pronounced as Qazzafi in Urdu and bit of a Lahori panache has been added which often sit well with the fans and the citizens in general.
The Capacity:
Following the overhauling and reconstruction, the stadium has now the capacity of around 25,000 to 27,000 seats which has pulled a massive crowd during the Zimbabwe’s tour to Pakistan for limited-overs series in 2015.
The two-year back tour further set the tone for the second edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) when the grand finale was held on March 5 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore between defending Champions Peshawar Zalmi-led by Darren Sammy and Sarfraz Ahmed’s Quetta Gladiators.
The stadium hosted the historic final between Australia and Sri Lanka before witness the World XI turning to Pakistan for the goodwill gesture.
The History of Lahore Stadium:
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In 2009, after Sri Lankan team bus came under gruesome attack at famous Liberty Chowk in Lahore, before the Islanders were airlifted from the Gaddafi Stadium. So much so, the unfortunate accident further isolated Pakistan in international cricket for over six years until gracious Zimbabweans paid a visit when major Test teams decided against it.
The Lahore Stadium was set-up in 1959 after the blueprint was provided by famous Civil Engineer Nasreddin Murat-Khan which was eventually constructed by Mian Abdul Khaliq and his colleagues, as the stadium has witnessed the Mughal style designing which comprised of the hand-made bricks during the revamping process in 1995-96.
Before the 1996 World Cup, the portion of the stadium was renovated as the stadium’s raw capacity was over 50, 0000.
The Home of Cricket for Pakistan which has the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Office in its premises, hosted the first-ever Test between November 21-26 in 1959 when hosts faced Australia.
Interestingly, the spectators witnessed the hat-tricks from New Zealand off-spinner Peter Petherick in 1976.
In 1999, former left-arm sensation Wasim Akram claimed the hat-trick alongside Mohammad Sami from Pakistan against Sri Lanka.
Why Gaddafi or Qazzafi Stadium?
The Lahore Stadium was renamed after a speech of the former Head of the State for Libya Muammar Gaddafi came during the second Islamic Conference in 1974 as the late dictator backed Pakistan for the nuclear power Pakistan.
Gaddafi back then was sharing a friendly bond with former Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
Coming to the conclusion, during the civil war, the deposed dictator Gaddafi was killed in 2011 at Sirte in Libya.