Faisalabad (TDI): The Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad is all set to host international cricket after a slumber of nearly two decades. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially announced that two out of five matches of T20I series against Bangladesh would be hosted at the Iqbal Stadium, starting from May 25, 2025.
This marks a historic return of international cricket to the city of Faisalabad — a place with a deep passionate cricket fan base.
As part of the initial plan, the Pakistan-Bangladesh cricket series was to include three ODI matches and three T20I matches. However, due to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup being scheduled next year, the two boards decided to organize five T20I matches in total, instead of the three ODI matches, putting their focus on fine-tuning their teams ahead of the World Cup.
This is the first time in nearly two decades that an international test series would be hosted by the Iqbal Stadium, coincidentally between Pakistan and Bangladesh, which is set to begin on May 25.
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Between 1978 and 2008, the Iqbal Stadium had hosted around 24 Test matches and 16 ODIs. In September 2024, the stadium had successfully hosted the inaugural Champions One-Day Cup, and a National T20 Cup. Holding these events helped restore Faisalabad’s capability to once again embrace the prestigious international cricket series.
Commenting on the return of international cricket to Faisalabad, a senior PCB official said, “The return of international cricket to Faisalabad is a testament to our commitment to reviving cricket across all traditional venues. Iqbal Stadium is not just a ground; it’s part of Pakistan’s cricketing heritage.”
Pakistan Cricket Board has released the schedule for the matches, which is as follows:
- 21 May – Bangladesh team arrives in Pakistan
- 25 May – 1st T20I at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad (8:00 PM)
- 27 May – 2nd T20I at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad (8:00 PM)
- 30 May – 3rd T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (8:00 PM)
- 1 June – 4th T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (8:00 PM)
- 3 June – 5th T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (8:00 PM)
The T20I cricket series holds a lot of significance for both Pakistan and Bangladesh. For Pakistan, it’s a chance to solidify test bench strength, and restore form. Meanwhile, for Bangladesh, the series provides an opportunity to improve their weak T20 record and build momentum.
Javaria Khalid is a Web Contributor at The Diplomatic Insight Magazine. She specializes in covering geopolitical developments, international relations, diplomatic, and socio-economic developments in Europe and Pakistan.
