Sharjah Cricket Stadium achieved a remarkable milestone on Wednesday by becoming the first international cricket venue to host 300 men’s matches. This landmark event coincided with the first One Day International (ODI) between Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The iconic stadium, located in the United Arab Emirates, has a rich history and has hosted numerous memorable matches since its inception.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium: Afghanistan’s Home Ground
Since opening its doors in 1984, Sharjah Cricket Stadium has been a significant venue in international cricket. Prior to Wednesday’s game, it had hosted a total of 252 ODIs, 38 T20s, and 10 Test matches. The inaugural match at this historic venue featured Sri Lanka and Pakistan during the Asia Cup ODI. Over the years, Sharjah has become synonymous with thrilling cricket encounters and has hosted several major tournaments, especially during the 1990s.
The stadium serves as the home ground for Afghanistan’s national team. Recently, Afghanistan showcased their prowess by defeating South Africa 2-1 in a three-match ODI series. As they face Bangladesh next, Afghanistan enters as strong favorites due to their familiarity with local conditions. This match against Bangladesh will be Sharjah’s 300th International Game.
Record-Breaking Venue
Among the many legends who have graced the pitch, Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar stands out. He recorded seven ODI centuries at Sharjah, including his famous “Desert Storm” innings against Australia in 1998. This performance is still celebrated as one of the greatest in ODI history. To honor Tendulkar’s contributions, the West Stand at Sharjah was renamed the “Sachin Tendulkar Stand” in celebration of his 50th birthday in 2023.
Pakistan has played a pivotal role at Sharjah, featuring in nearly half of all matches held there. They have participated in 144 games and won 93 of them. Following Pakistan are Sri Lanka with 87 matches and India with 72 appearances. India last played at Sharjah in 2000, securing 35 victories at this venue.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium holds the record for hosting the most ODIs globally, with a total of 252 matches. The recent ODI between Afghanistan and Bangladesh marked the stadium’s 300th match across all formats—Tests, ODIs, and T20s combined. This achievement underscores Sharjah’s status as a premier cricketing destination. The venue has now become the first stadium to host 300 international men’s games.
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