The Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the city of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) was established in the early 1980s. The ground holds the world record for having hosted the most one-day international (ODI) matches (240).
It is famous for being the venue where Sachin Tendulkar scored his ‘Desert Storm’ successive centuries (143 and 134) in the Coca-Cola Cup against Australia in April 1998.
Sharjah gained popularity as a limited-overs venue in the 80s as it hosted several tournaments under the aegis of The Cricketers Benefit Fund Series established by patron Abdul Rahman Bukhatir.
It lost out after the match-fixing scandal in the late 1990s, and the Indian government even banned the national team from playing in Sharjah.
The ground made a return as an international venue in the 2010s as Afghanistan and Pakistan started using it as a ‘home’ venue.
It also hosted a few matches of the Indian T20 League in 2014, 2020 and 2021.
We take a look at the T20I and T20 records at the ground.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium T20I records
Highest total: The highest total in a T20I match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium is 215/6 made by Afghanistan against Zimbabwe in 2016. Afghanistan won the game by 81 runs.
Lowest total: The lowest total in a T20I match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium is 38 by Hong Kong against Pakistan in Men's T20 Asia Cup 2022. Pakistan won the match by 155 runs.
Highest individual score: The highest individual T20I score at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium is 118 not out off 67 balls by Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad against Zimbabwe in 2016. Afghanistan won the match by 81 runs.
Best bowling: The best T20I bowling performance at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium is 5/13 by Afghanistan leg-spinner Samiullah Shinwari in a group game of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier against Kenya in 2013. Afghanistan won the match by 34 runs.
Highest partnership: The highest partnership in a T20I match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium is 137 runs for the second wicket between Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran against United Arab Emirates in 2023. Afghanistan won the game by 72 runs.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium T20 records
Most runs: Afghanistan wicket-keeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad has made the most runs in T20 matches at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium: 941 runs from 27 games at an average of 40.91 and strike rate of 155.28.
Highest individual score: The highest individual score in a T20 game at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium is 127 not out off 59 balls by Karachi Kings’ Colin Ingram against Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2019. Karachi Kings won the match by six wickets.
Best bowling: The best bowling figures in a T20 match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium is 6/16 by Karachi Kings’ Ravi Bopara in the PSL against Lahore Qalandars in 2016. Karachi Kings won the match by 27 runs.
Featured photo: AFP / Lakruwan Wanniarachchi
