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Pakistan ground profiles - back to home
Niaz Stadium
Hyderabad, Sind
Ground profile
Established 1959
Named after Niaz Ahmed
Capacity 15,000
Floodlights No
Home team(s) Hyderabad (India)
Current local time 14:40, Sat Oct 11, 2008 (UTC +0600)
External links Weather
Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad is situated in the heart of the third most populous city of Pakistan. It first staged first-class cricket in 1962 and in 1972-73 hosted the first of its five Tests when Pakistan drew with England. The last Test was 12 seasons later, Test cricket's 1000th game, when Pakistan drew New Zealand.
The ground staged the World Cup match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 1987 when a capacity crowd of 15,000 watched the hosts register a narrow victory. The last ODI was in 1997-98, and the end of the stadium as a credible venue came in when West Indies' tour match later that season against Habib Bank was abandoned after a protest against sub-standard accommodation facilities.
The stadium fell into a state of disrepair and the lack of acceptable accommodation nearby deemed it unfit to host international games. The outfield during the last ODI played there was so poor that gaps had to be covered with coloured sawdust.
Things finally changed in mid-2007 when the Pakistan board took possession of the stadium and upgraded its facilities. A one-day international was awarded against the touring Zimbabweans in January the following year, ending a ten-year hiatus.
Martin Williamson
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