Bangabandhu National Stadium - Dhaka

[TheAngel_TheSaint]

Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka , Bangladesh
Name: Bangabandhu National Stadium
Also or formerly known as: National Stadium; Dacca Stadium
Pitch type: Grass
Floodlights: Since 1998
Capacity: 36000
End names: Pavilion End, Paltan End
Home Team: Bangladesh, Dacca.
Other sports: Soccer

The Bangabandhu Stadium holds the distinction of hosting Pakistan's first ever match in Test cricket. This was in 1955, when Bangladesh was part of Pakistan. Dacca Stadium (as it was known then) hosted 7 Tests up to 1969 before Bangladesh achieved independance in 1971. The stadium since has been the main cricket stadium in the country, being renamed first to the National Stadium and then to the Bangabandhu National Stadium in honor of the father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Although there have been various 'A' Team matches and friendly matches over the years, it was not until 1988 when top-level international cricket returned to the stadium when Bangladesh hosted the third Asia Cup. There was a wait of 10 years until the next official ODI tournament when Bangladesh took on Pakistan and India in the Independence Cup, celebrating 25 years of Bangladesh autonomy. India won both of these tournaments.

Located to the north of the main city area nearby Purana Paltan Road and Bangabandhu Avenue, the outer rim of the stadium holds an entire shopping centre plus other offices, including the Bangladesh Cricket Board. It is a bowl-shaped ground providing little other than temporary canvas shade for the majority of the spectators. Much renovation work was carried out in 1998 for the prestigous Wills International Cup, including a new electronic scoreboard (made by the same company who installed the new scoreboards in the Gabba, Lord's and some South African grounds), new media centre, new corporate boxes, and the floodlights (acknowledged by some as the best in the world).

The ground also plays host to football, but as Bangladesh becomes more and more a serious cricketing nation, the ground is also becoming solely dedicated to cricket.


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