Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium is a cricket stadium located in the port city of Chattogram, in south-eastern Bangladesh.
Previously known as Bir Shrestha Shahid Ruhul Amin Stadium, the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium was granted full international status in January 2006.
The Chattogram cricket stadium is named after Zahur Ahmad Chowdhury, who was a Bangladesh Awami League politician and a former Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium staged its first international cricket match, a Test played between hosts Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in February 2006. Led by Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka won the Chattogram Test by eight wickets.
It later hosted its first One-Day International (ODI) that also featured Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the same multi-format series later in March. Sri Lanka won the game by 78 runs.
In February 2014, Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium later staged its first T20 international. Sri Lanka pipped Bangladesh by just two runs in that game.
It is the home ground of the Bangladesh cricket team and the Chattogram Challengers, the local franchise in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
With a seating capacity of 22,000, the venue also hosted 15 matches in the ICC World T20 tournament in 2014.
Let’s have a closer look at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium T20I records and stats.
Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium T20I records and stats
Highest total
The Bangladesh cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in T20I cricket. In a rain-affected game, the Shakib Al Hasan-led side posted 207/5 in 19.2 overs during the first T20I of Ireland’s tour of Bangladesh in March 2023. Bangladesh rode on Rony Talukdar’s 67 off 38 balls along with contributions from Litton Das (47), Shamim Hossain (30) and Shakib Al Hasan’s unbeaten 20 to post a record T20I total at the venue. Rain later played spoilsport as Ireland required 104 in eight overs. In reply, the visitors could only manage 81/5 as Bangladesh won the game by 22 runs (DLS method).
Lowest total
The Netherlands cricket team registered the lowest total at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in the T20I format. During a World T20 group match in 2014, the Netherlands were bundled out for 39 in 10.3 overs against Sri Lanka. Tom Cooper was the only Dutch batter to reach double digits as he scored 16 off 18 balls. For Sri Lanka, Angelo Mathews and Ajantha Mendis bagged three wickets each. Sri Lanka later chased down the target in five overs and won the match by nine wickets.
Most runs
Bangladesh’s star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has scored the most runs at the venue in T20I cricket. Between 2014 and 2023, Shakib Al Hasan amassed 287 runs in 10 matches at an average of 57.40 and a strike rate of 151.85. The southpaw has slammed one fifty in the T20I format at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das features second on the list with 189 runs in six matches at an average of 31.50 and a strike rate of 171.81.
Most wickets
Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has also picked up the most wickets at this cricket ground in the T20I format. The slow left-arm spinner has scalped 14 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 13.28 and an economy of 5.63. He has registered best bowling figures of 5/22 against Ireland at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in T20I cricket. Former South Africa leg-spinner Imran Tahir is second on the list with 11 T20I wickets in just four matches at this venue.
Highest individual score
England’s Alex Hales holds the record for the highest individual score at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in T20 cricket. Chasing 190 in a 2014 T20 World Cup match, swashbuckling opening batter Alex Hales slammed an unbeaten 116 off just 64 balls against Sri Lanka to guide England to a six-wicket win in Chattogram. Hales’ match-winning knock was laced with 11 fours and six maximums. Earlier, Mahela Jayawardene’s 89 helped Sri Lanka post 189/4 in their 20 overs.
Best bowling figures
Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath has the best bowling figures at this venue in the T20I format. The former left-arm spinner registered match-winning figures of 5/3 against New Zealand during a World T20 group match in 2014. Defending 119, Rangana Herath dismissed captain Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi and Trent Boult to bowl out New Zealand for 60 in 15.3 overs. Earlier, Sri Lanka scored 119 before being bowled out in 19.2 overs. Sri Lanka won the match by 59 runs.
Highest partnership
England’s Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan hold the record for the highest partnership at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in T20I cricket. During a World T20 encounter in 2014, Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan forged a magnificent 152-run stand for the third wicket to help England chase down 190 in 19.2 overs. Hales smashed a 64-ball 116 while Morgan scored 57 off 38 balls after being reduced to 2/0.
Photo credit: Alamy
