Dubai International Stadium, also known as Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium, is the UAE’s most popular and iconic stadium. In the last decade, it has hosted numerous national and international cricket events like the Indian Premier League (IPL). This stadium is considered a world-class cricket venue, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) headquarters are just a few miles away.
How is the Dubai International Cricket Stadium?
This stadium in Dubai Sports City is one of the few with floodlights. It has a unique floodlight system called the “Ring of Fire.” More than 350 floodlights are installed in the stadium, making it a perfect venue for international stadiums. The renowned Canadian architect Awsam Matloob was responsible for creating this stadium.
Because it has so many seats, this stadium is often used for entertainment events besides cricket matches. It can accommodate nearly 25,000 people at a time.
Cricketing History of Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Pakistan has always considered the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as its home ground, as they have played most matches here. They have played nearly 60+ matches in this stadium. Since the commencement of this stadium, more than 30 One Day Internationals and 60+ T20 matches have been hosted here.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has always chosen Dubai International Cricket Stadium for the opening ceremony matches and finals. Before 2020, four seasons of PSL matches were played on the ground of this stadium.
Another key achievement of this stadium is that it has hosted both day and night test cricket matches.
Overview of the Dubai International Stadium pitch report
This stadium has one of the most unusual pitches, helping spin and pace bowlers. Some wide cracks and decent patches of green grass are all over the pitch.
Besides bowlers, the Dubai International Stadium pitch report also indicates small boundaries, which is a plus point for the bowlers, especially in the powerplay overs. As the day passes, the wicket gets flatter, so it could be a better ground for the seamers. Above all, this stadium is very close to the Persian Gulf, which keeps the environment warm and gives more cracks to the crowd. However, the weather conditions get reversed at night, and the pitch is much more favorable for the batters. Overall, this is a perfect ground for the spinners and the batters.
Major international fixtures happened at Dubai International Stadium
Until now, the biggest international tournament ever hosted in Dubai International Stadium was ICC World T20 Qualifier 2019. The stadium was crowded as it was a high point for cricket lovers.
Another popular tournament hosted at this stadium was Asia Cup 2018, where numerous popular international cricket teams such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and many more gave some spine-chilling moments for cricket fans.
Despite being such a highly-advanced cricket ground, the ticket prices are economical, drawing the attention of thousands of spectators every year.
Also Read: Brabourne Cricket Stadium
Dubai International Stadium Stats
Wins batting first vs batting second in T20
| Batting first | Batting second | Ties | |
| Wins | 55 | 77 | 5 |
Recent T20 matches in Dubai
| Teams | Year | Toss | 1st innings | 2nd innings | Result / Scorecard |
| AUS vs ENG | 2021 | ENG field | AUS 125 | ENG 126/2 | ENG 8 wickets scorecard |
| AFG vs PAK | 2021 | AFG bat | AFG 147/6 | PAK 148/5 | PAK 5 wickets scorecard |
| SL vs AUS | 2021 | AUS field | SL 154/6 | AUS 155/3 | AUS 7 wickets scorecard |
| WI vs RSA | 2021 | RSA field | WI 143/8 | RSA 144/2 | RSA 8 wickets scorecard |
| IND vs PAK | 2021 | PAK field | IND 151/7 | PAK 152/0 | PAK 10 wickets scorecard |
International Records in Dubai
| Team | Games Played | Wins | Ties or N/R | Losses |
| Afghanistan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Australia | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Bangladesh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| England | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| India | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ireland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| New Zealand | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Pakistan | 27 | 17 | 0 | 10 |
| South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Sri Lanka | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| West Indies | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Zimbabwe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Highest total at Dubai in a T20 international
Lowest total at Dubai in a T20 international
| Team | Score | Opposition | Year | Scorecard |
| West Indies | 55 | England | 2021 | Link |
| Ireland | 71 | Afghanistan | 2017 | Link |
| Pakistan | 74 | Australia | 2012 | Link |
| Australia | 89 | Pakistan | 2012 | Link |
| Pakistan | 96 | Australia | 2014 | Link |
| Pakistan | 98 | South Africa | 2013 | Link |
Highest successful run chase at Dubai in a T20 international
| Team | Score | Opposition | Year | Scorecard |
| Australia | 155 | Sri Lanka | 2021 | Link |
| Pakistan | 154 | New Zealand | 2018 | Link |
| Pakistan | 152 | India | 2021 | Link |
Top score by a batsman in Dubai in T20 internationals
| Batsman | Team | Runs (balls) | Opposition | Year | Scorecard |
| MDKJ Perera | Sri Lanka | 84 (59) | Pakistan | 2013 | Link |
| Mohammed Rizwan | Pakistan | 79 (55) | India | 2021 | Link |
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | 79 (58) | New Zealand | 2018 | Link |
| Sarfraz Ahmed | Pakistan | 76 (64) | New Zealand | 2014 | Link |
Best bowling figures in Dubai in T20 internationals
| Bowler | Team | Figures | Opposition | Year | Scorecard |
| Imad Wasim | Pakistan | 5 for 14 | West Indies | 2016 | Link |
| Adil Rashid | England | 4 for 2 | West Indies | 2021 | Link |
| Umar Gul | Pakistan | 4 for 8 | Australia | 2009 | Link |
| Mohammad Nabi | Afghanistan | 4 for 10 | Ireland | 2017 | Link |
Dubai IPL records by team
| Team | Games Played | Wins | Ties or N/R | Losses |
| CSK | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| DC | 15 | 7 | 0 | 8 |
| KKR | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| MI | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| PBKS | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| RR | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| RCB | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| SRH | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 |
Highest total at Dubai in the IPL
| Team | Score | Opposition | Year | Scorecard |
| SRH | 219 | DC | 2020 | Link |
| PBKS | 206 | RCB | 2020 | Link |
| RCB | 201 | MI | 2020 | Link |
| MI | 201 | RCB | 2020 | Link |
| SRH | 201 | PBKS | 2020 | Link |
Lowest total in Dubai in the IPL
Highest successful run chase in Dubai in the IPL
| Team | Score | Opposition | Year | Scorecard |
| CSK | 181 | PBKS | 2020 | Link |
Top score by a batsman at Dubai in the IPL
| Batsman | Team | Runs (balls) | Opposition | Year | Scorecard |
| KL Rahul | PBKS | 132 (69) | RCB | 2020 | Link |
| S Dhawan | DC | 106 (61) | PBKS | 2020 | Link |
Best bowling figures at Dubai in the IPL
| Bowler | Team | Figures | Opposition | Year | Scorecard |
| Arshdeep Singh | PBKS | 5 for 32 | RR | 2021 | Link |
Also Read: DY Patil Stadium
Non-cricketing events hosted at Dubai International Stadium
Dubai is home to numerous entertainment and sports events. Numerous MMA tournaments, Indian festivals, and award shows were hosted at this stadium. As Dubai’s population comprises Indians, especially Keralities, many Kerala-based cultural shows are also hosted at this stadium. In simpler words, the Dubai International Stadium is busy throughout the year. Toby Lumbsden is the head curator and chief of Dubai International Stadium.
Final Words
If you’re a hardcore cricket lover, many events will be organized in the upcoming months of 2023. Here we end our brief overview of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. We hope you’ll gather some breathtaking and mesmerizing experiences from this iconic stadium during your visit to UAE.
