The National Stadium Karachi is a cricketing venue located in Karachi, Pakistan. It is owned by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
With a capacity of 34,228, it is the largest cricket stadium in Pakistan.
Established in April 1955, the venue staged its first cricket match between Pakistan and India in the same month, which ended in a draw at the end of four days.
In November 1989, India’s Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut at the National Stadium Karachi against Pakistan. The match concluded in a stalemate.
Interestingly, Pakistan have an incredible record on this ground as far as the longest format of the game is concerned. In the 46 Tests played at the National Stadium Karachi, the Men in Green have lost just thrice. Their 45-year unbeaten run came to an end with a six-wicket defeat to England in December 2000.
Here are the Test records at the venue.
National Stadium Karachi Test records
Highest total
The highest total at the National Stadium Karachi in a Test match is 765/6 (declared) made by Pakistan against Sri Lanka in February 2009.
Skipper Younis Khan smashed a triple century to give a fitting response to Sri Lanka’s first innings score of 644/7. The match finished in a high-scoring draw.
Lowest Total
Australia were bundled out for 80 runs versus Pakistan in October 1956, which is the lowest Test total at the venue. In fact, it is the only instance when a team was bowled out for a two-digit score in Tests at National Stadium Karachi.
The Pakistani pace duo Fazal Mahmood and Khan Mohammad wreaked havoc by taking all 10 wickets between them to rattle the Aussies in the first innings. They continued to torment the opposition batting line-up by taking all wickets in the second innings as well.
In the end, the Abdul Kardar-led side won by nine wickets.
Highest individual score
In the same match where Pakistan recorded the highest team total, former Pakistan cricket team captain Younis Khan played a marathon innings of 313 runs off 568 balls, which is the highest individual score at the venue.
Best bowling
Former Pakistani seamer Imran Khan recorded 8/60 in a winning cause against India in December 1982. This is the best bowling figures in an innings at National Stadium Karachi.
The captain led from the front to help his team to a massive win by an innings and 86 runs.
Highest partnership
Sri Lankan batters Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera hold the record for the highest partnership in Tests at the National Stadium Karachi.
In the match where Pakistan slammed the highest total at the venue, the duo stitched together a huge stand of 437 runs for the fourth wicket in the first innings, with each of them getting their double century.
Photo credit: Alamy
