{{Short description|Cricket ground in Hyderabad, Pakistan}} {{Hatnote|Not to be confused with the [[Arbab Niaz Stadium]] in Peshawar}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox cricket ground | ground_name = Niaz Stadium | nickname = NSH | image = | caption = Niaz Stadium Hyderabad | country = Pakistan | location = [[Hyderabad, Sindh]], [[Sindh]], [[Pakistan]] | establishment = {{start date and age|1959}} | seating_capacity = 15,000 | owner = [[Hyderabad Municipal Corporation]] | operator = [[Hyderabad Municipal Corporation]] | tenants = [[Pakistan national cricket team]] <br> [[Hyderabad Kingsmen]] <br>[[Hyderabad cricket team (Pakistan)|Hyderabad cricket team]] <br> [[Hyderabad Hawks]] | end1 = Pavilion End | end2 = | international = true | firstodidate = 20 September | firstodiyear = 1982 | firstodihome = Pakistan | firstodiaway = Australia | lastodidate = 24 January | lastodiyear = 2008 | lastodihome = Pakistan | lastodiaway = Zimbabwe | firsttestdate = 16 – 21 March | firsttestyear = 1973 | firsttesthome = Pakistan | firsttestaway = England | lasttestdate = 25 – 29 November | lasttestyear = 1984 | lasttesthome = Pakistan | lasttestaway = New Zealand | date = 4 September | year = 2020 | source = http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/58936.html Niaz Stadium, ESPNcricinfo |coordinates={{coord|25.3826|68.3381|display=it}}}}
'''Niaz Stadium''' is a [[Cricket field|cricket ground]] in [[Hyderabad, Pakistan|Hyderabad]], [[Pakistan]]. The ground can accommodate 15,000 spectators,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Paracha |first=Nadeem F. |author-link=Nadeem F. Paracha |date=2017-03-10 |title=Stadium stories: Famous Pakistan cricket grounds |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1319194 |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |language=en}}</ref> and hosted its first [[test cricket|Test match]] in 1973.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |date=17 June 2011 |title=Niaz Stadium |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/58936.html |access-date=19 August 2021 |work=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> It was established in November 1961 by the then Commissioner of Hyderabad, Niaz Ahmed, after whom the stadium is named.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arynews.tv/en/niaz-stadium-hyderabad-rebuilt-sindh-govt/|title=Sindh govt plans to rebuild Niaz Stadium Hyderabad|date=25 February 2020|website=ARY TV News website|access-date=19 August 2021}}</ref>
The first ever [[hat-trick]] in [[One Day International]]s was claimed at this ground by [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]]'s [[Jalal-ud-Din (cricketer)|Jalal-ud-Din]] during [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]]'s [[Australian cricket team in Pakistan in 1982–83|1982–83 tour of Pakistan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Mohammad Hussain |date=11 February 2023 |title=Hyderabad’s Niaz Stadium longs for revival of cricket activities |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1736462 |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]}}</ref> Jalal-ud-Din removed [[Rod Marsh]], [[Bruce Yardley]], and [[Geoff Lawson (cricketer)|Geoff Lawson]] with the last three balls of his seventh over.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-09-20 |title=The Afghan giant |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/149691.html |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |language=en}}</ref>
Niaz Stadium celebrated staging Test cricket's 1,000th match.<ref name=":0" /> Pakistan has never lost a single match, whether a Test or ODI, at this ground.
==History== Niaz Stadium is situated in the heart of Hyderabad, one of the most populous cities in Pakistan. The stadium has been named after Niaz Ahmed, the late commissioner of Hyderabad, who was the motivating factor for building this stadium.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Mohammad Hussain |date=24 May 2015 |title=A part of history |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1183588 |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]}}</ref>
The inaugural first-class match was played at Niaz Stadium between South Zone and the Pakistan Education Board (PEB) on March 16–18, 1962. Niaz Stadium became the 32nd first-class ground in Pakistan and the 2nd in Hyderabad.<ref name="auto2"/>
Only five Tests have so far been played at Hyderabad: two each against [[England]] and [[New Zealand]], and one against [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad Cricket Team Records & Stats |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/team/match_results.html?class=1&id=574&type=ground |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref>
The inaugural Test match at the ground took place from March 16 to 21, 1973, against England, and it resulted in a draw after big scoring. England picked up 487, with [[Dennis Amiss]] scoring 158. Pakistan, in reply, did even better, compiling 569 before declaring after nine wickets had fallen. [[Mushtaq Mohammad]] hit 157 and [[Intikhab Alam]] 138. England played out time by hitting 218 for six wickets for the match to end in a draw.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Full Scorecard of England vs Pakistan 2nd Test 1972/73 - Score Report |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-pakistan-1972-73-61757/pakistan-vs-england-2nd-test-63106/full-scorecard |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref>
The last Test played at Niaz Stadium was between Pakistan and New Zealand on November 25–29, 1984. Niaz Stadium celebrated staging Test cricket's 1000th match.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |title=Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad Cricket Team Records & Stats. |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/team/match_results.html?class=1&id=574&type=ground |access-date=2025-11-09 |work=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref>
With [[Pakistan]] winning the rubber with more than a day to spare, [[Javed Miandad]] became the second Pakistani after [[Hanif Mohammad]] to score a century in each innings of a Test. Niaz Stadium boasts of the fact that Pakistan never lost a Test or [[One Day International|one-day international]] here.<ref name="auto2" />
After a ten-year hiatus, an international match was played at the ground on January 24, 2008, between Pakistan and Zimbabwe. In April 2018, the [[Pakistan Cricket Board]] (PCB) announced that the venue, along with several others in the country, would get a makeover to get them ready for future international matches and fixtures in the [[Pakistan Super League]].<ref>{{cite web |date=2018-04-17 |title=Pakistan plans makeover for stadiums |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/666941 |access-date=17 April 2018 |work=[[International Cricket Council]]}}</ref> However, no PSL match could be hosted over the next few years.
In May 2025, the PCB chairman, [[Mohsin Naqvi]] announced that the stadium will be upgraded to international standards. International cricket is expected to return by 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shah |first=Abdul Mohi |date=2025-06-06 |title=Niaz Stadium to host international matches next season: PCB chief |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1318915-niaz-stadium-to-host-international-matches-next-season-pcb-chief |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=[[The News International]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Records and statistics == === Test === * '''Highest team total''': 581/3d, by [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] against [[India national cricket team|India]] on 14 January 1983.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad Cricket Team Records & Stats |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/team/highest_innings_totals.html?class=1&id=574&type=ground |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> * '''Lowest team total''': 189, by [[India national cricket team|India]] against [[Pakistan]] on 14 January 1983.<ref name=":1" /> * '''Highest individual score''': 280*, [[Javed Miandad]] for [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] against [[India national cricket team|India]] on 14 January 1983.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad Cricket Team Records & Stats |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_innings.html?class=1&id=574&type=ground |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> * '''Highest partnership''': 451, for the 3rd wicket by [[Mudassar Nazar]] and [[Javed Miandad]] for [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] against [[India national cricket team|India]] on 14 January 1983.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad Cricket Team Records & Stats |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/fow/highest_partnerships_by_wicket.html?class=1&id=574&type=ground |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> * '''Most wickets''': 16 wickets, in 3 matches by [[Abdul Qadir (cricketer)|Abdul Qadir]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad Cricket Team Records & Stats |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?class=1&id=574&type=ground |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> * '''Most runs''': 661 runs, in 4 matches by [[Javed Miandad]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad Cricket Team Records & Stats |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?class=1&id=574&type=ground |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref>
=== One Day International === * '''Highest team total''': 267/6, by [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] against [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] on 8 October 1987.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad Cricket Team Records & Stats |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/team/highest_innings_totals.html?class=2&id=574&type=ground |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> * '''Lowest team total''': 127, by [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] against [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] on 3 November 1985.<ref name=":2" /> * '''Highest individual score''': 115*, by [[Javed Miandad]] for [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] against [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] on 15 January 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad Cricket Team Records & Stats |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_innings.html?class=2&id=574&type=ground |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> * '''Highest partnership''': 137, for the 3rd wicket by [[Hamilton Masakadza]] and [[Tatenda Taibu]] for [[Zimbabwe national cricket team|Zimbabwe]] against [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] on 24 January 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad Cricket Team Records & Stats |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/fow/highest_partnerships_by_wicket.html?class=2&id=574&type=ground |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> * '''Most runs''': 335 runs, in 5 matches by [[Javed Miandad]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad Cricket Team Records & Stats |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?class=2&id=574&type=ground |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> * '''Most wickets''': 7 wickets, in 2 matches by [[Aaqib Javed]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad Cricket Team Records & Stats |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?class=2&id=574&type=ground |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref>
===Key=== {| class="wikitable" border="1" |- ! Symbol ! Meaning |- |'''Date''' |Day the [[Test cricket|Test]] started or [[One Day International|ODI]] was held |- |'''Inn''' |[[Innings#Cricket|Innings]] in which five-wicket haul was taken |- |'''Overs''' |Number of [[Over (cricket)|overs]] bowled. |- |'''Runs''' |Number of [[Run (cricket)|runs]] conceded |- |'''Wkts''' |Number of [[Wicket#Dismissing a batsman|wickets]] taken |- |'''Econ''' |[[Cricket statistics#Bowling statistics|Runs conceded per over]] |- |'''Batsmen''' |[[Batting (cricket)|Batsmen]] whose wickets were taken |- |'''Drawn''' |The match was [[Draw (cricket)|drawn]]. |}
===Tests=== Two five wicket hauls have been taken at Niaz Stadium:<ref>{{cite web |title=Statistics – – Test Matches – Bowling Records |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;ground=574;orderby=start;qualmin1=5;qualval1=wickets;result=4;size=200;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings |access-date=31 August 2019 |work=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 100%" |- align=center ! scope="col" width="38"|No. ! scope="col" width="145"|Bowler ! scope="col" width="220"|Date ! scope="col" width="120"|Team ! scope="col" width="120"|Opposing team ! scope="col" width="60"|Inn ! scope="col" width="82"|Overs ! scope="col" width="70"|Runs ! scope="col" width="60"|Wkts ! scope="col" width="70"|Econ ! scope="col" width="70"|Result |-align="center" |scope="row"| 1 || [[Pat Pocock]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1973|3|16}} || {{cr|ENG}} || {{cr|PAK}} || {{nts|2}} || {{nts|52}} || {{nts|169}} || {{nts|5}} || {{nts|3.25}} || Drawn |-align="center" |scope="row"| 2 || [[Abdul Qadir (cricketer)|Abdul Qadir]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1978|1|2}} || {{cr|PAK}} || {{cr|ENG}} || {{nts|2}} || {{nts|24}} || {{nts|44}} || {{nts|6}} || {{nts|1.37}} || Drawn |}
==See also== * [[List of Test cricket grounds]] * [[List of stadiums in Pakistan]] * [[List of cricket grounds in Pakistan]] * [[List of sports venues in Karachi]] * [[List of sports venues in Lahore]] * [[List of sports venues in Faisalabad]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://wikimapia.org/1703385/Niaz-Stadium-Hyderabad Location on Wikimaps, 2009] * [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Grounds/22/1488.html Archive Records from Niaz Stadium] * [http://content-pak.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/current/image?object=7 Pictures of the recent match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe] * [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/22/1488.html CricketArchive]
{{Cricket grounds in Pakistan}}
[[Category:Test cricket grounds in Pakistan]] [[Category:Hyderabad District, Pakistan]] [[Category:Stadiums in Pakistan]] [[Category:Cricket grounds in Pakistan]] [[Category:1959 establishments in Pakistan]]