The Dring Stadium, also known as Bahawal Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan. It is often used for cricket and football. Situated on Stadium Road, opposite Bahawalpur Zoo, the stadium can accommodate 15,000 spectators.
Besides being used for cricket, hockey and football, the stadium also includes a swimming pool, a karate venue, gym, as well as squash, volleyball and tennis courts.
History The stadium was originally called Dring Stadium after the second Prime Minister of Bahawalpur, Sir John Dring.Samiuddin, Osman (2014) The Unquiet Ones: A History of Pakistan Cricket, Delhi:HarperCollins Publishers India Dring was Prime Minister under Nawab Sadiq V and served in this role from 1948 to 1952.Shah, Nazeer Ali (1959) Sadiqnamah: The History of Bahawalpur State, Lahore: Maktaba Jadieed Dring Stadium was ahead of its time and was the only complete stadium in Pakistan at the time.
Cricket It was the first cricket ground in West Pakistan to host a Test match, when it hosted the second Test of Indian cricket team in Pakistan in 1954–55, India's inaugural tour of Pakistan. However, this was the only Test match to be held at this ground. As of 2002, 155 first class matchesFirst-Class Matches played on Bahawal Stadium, Bahawalpur (155), from cricketarchive.com, retrieved 16 March 2006 and 23 List A matches have been played at this ground.List A Limited Overs Matches played in Pakistan at Bahawalpur (Bahawal Stadium) (23), from cricketarchive.com, retrieved 16 March 2006
As Bahawalpur's cricket team has been without first-class status since 2002–03, there was only one first-class match and one List A match here for the three seasons following that, but the ground still hosts Under-19 matches.
International centuries One Test century has been scored at the venue.
No. Score Player Team Balls Opposing team Date Result 1 142 Hanif Mohammad NA Drawn
International five-wicket hauls Two five-wicket hauls in Test matches have been taken at the venue. No.BowlerDateTeamOpposing teamInnOversRunsWktsEconResult 1 Khan Mohammad Drawn 2 Polly Umrigar Drawn
Football In 1993, the stadium hosted the National B-Division Football Championship. The stadium hosted the 2013 National Challenge Cup.
See also List of Test cricket grounds One-Test wonder 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 List of stadiums by capacity
References
Further references Bahawal Stadium, from cricinfo.com, Retrieved 16 March 2006.