Sylhet International Cricket Stadium – History, Features & Renovations And More

Centered in between the picturesque and greenery landscape, Sylhet International Cricket Stadium has stood as the shining testament to the country’s passion for cricket. The ground is surrounded by lush greenery, state-of-the-art facilities, and a serene backdrop of rolling hills. This venue of this stadium makes it simply just more than a cricket stadium. Rather it also becomes a symbol of the region’s cultural and sporting pride towards nature.

Knowing Sylhet International Cricket Stadium

Sylhet International Cricket Stadium which is popularly known as Sylhet Stadium and previously known as Sylhet Divisional Stadium is a popular cricket stadium in Sylhet, Bangladesh. This stadium is known for its scenic beauty for it is surrounded by the green gallery. The stadium was significantly expanded in 2013, in order to host matches for the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 and 2014 ICC Women’s World Twenty20. This stadium then hosted its very first international match on 17 March 2014, with Ireland taking a toll on Zimbabwe. In fact, in the year 2022, the Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup was hosted on this very ground.

History Behind Scenic Sylhet International Cricket Stadium

The stadium was constructed in 2007 as a regional cricket venue. It is encircled by hills and offers a picturesque landscape. England Lions, England Under-19, and Nepal Under-19 have competed here. The venue held its inaugural test match in November 2018, marking the eighth test site in Bangladesh, where the home side was defeated by Zimbabwe by 151 runs. The location held its second test match five years later, in 2023, after the initial test match took place here in 2018.

In November–December 2023, Bangladesh faced New Zealand in a test match and secured victory by 150 runs, marking their first test win against New Zealand on home soil and at this specific venue.

Features & Renovations of Sylhet International Cricket Stadium

The stadium was enlarged and refurbished to accommodate games of the 2014 ICC World Twenty20. The refurbishment started in June 2013 and was completed by mid-November 2013. The primary pavilion structure and the media center have been built, floodlights set up, and seating plans altered. Another notable feature of the stadium is the recently constructed, the nation’s first ‘Green gallery’.

The facility underwent renovations once more in 2017 to enhance it to meet international stadium standards. An additional tier was constructed in the east side gallery, boosting the seating capacity by 5,000, and the green hill was redesigned. Consequently, the venue accommodated the first leg of the BPL 2017 matches.

Listed below are some of the features or facilities provided at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium:

Player Amenities: The stadium has big locker rooms, places for physical therapy, and up-to-date training spots. These help players feel at ease and get ready for games.

Media and Broadcasting: The media hub boasts top-notch tech making it easy to show matches worldwide. Fast internet and advanced communication tools allow reporters to share news and insights right away.

Floodlights: High-quality lights let the stadium host games at night as well as during the day making the place more flexible.

Spectator Comfort: The seats are set up to give fans the best experience, with plenty of space for legs and clear views. The stadium also has food areas, bathrooms, and medical help spots to make watching games even better.

Records & Memorable Events

The Sylhet International Cricket Stadium has witnessed several records and memorable moments. The major role in all this is definitely played by different teams and their team collaboration. In this section, we dive deep into the records and other facets:

In a qualifying match for the 2014 ICC World Twenty20, Ireland and the Netherlands were competing for a place in the Super 10. Ireland batted initially and made a score of 189–4. The Netherlands had to secure victory in the match in 13.5 overs to advance to the Super 10s. If they manage that, they would be eligible for Super 10’s. If they win the match but don’t finish it in 13.5 overs, Zimbabwe will make it to the Super 10’s. However, if their present rivals emerge victorious, Ireland would qualify. This game features several records.

The Netherlands achieved the quickest 100 runs in only 6.6 overs, setting the record for the fastest by any team in T20I. The Netherlands achieved the quickest 150 runs in only 10.3 overs, the swiftest record for any team in T20I. The Netherlands secured victory with 37 balls remaining, marking the quickest win for any team in T20I while chasing 180 runs.

Taijul Islam became the fourth Bangladeshi bowler to achieve a 10 wicket haul in Test matches. He also maintains the record for the third-best bowling figures (11/170) in a Test match by any Bangladeshi bowler.

In the opening ODI:

Bangladesh achieved victory in the match by 169 runs, marking their largest winning margin in ODIs. Mashrafe Mortaza achieved his 100th wicket as ODI captain and his 700th career wicket. In the Second ODI, Tamim Iqbal achieved the milestone of being the first Bangladeshi batsman to reach 7,000 runs in ODIs.

In the third One Day International:

Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das formed a 292-run partnership, the highest for any wicket in Bangladesh’s history. Liton Das achieved a total of 176 runs from 143 balls, marking the highest personal score by any Bangladeshi player in ODIs. Liton Das struck 8 sixes, accumulating a total of 24.

International Centuries at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium

Test Centuries

ODI Centuries

Women T20 Centuries

Under-19 ODI Centuries

Effect of Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Tourism

The creation of the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium has a huge influence on the local economy and tourism. When matches happen, lots of people come to town, which gives a big boost to hotels, restaurants, and transportation services.

What’s more, the stadium puts Sylhet on the world stage as a place for cricket. People who visit the area often want to see the stadium as part of their trip, which makes it even more attractive. The mix of cricket and tourism opens up new chances for local businesses and people with big ideas.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we all can understand that Sylhet International Cricket Stadium is simply more than a cricket ground. Rather it is a symbol of pride and aspiration for the people of Sylhet as well as Bangladesh. The ground has a stunning location infused with modern facilities to make it stand out from all the other. With all these facilities, the ground continues to host several exciting and thrilling matches for spectators. So, whether you are a lover of cricket or just nature or even just a curious traveler, this stadium is going to offer you all. 

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