Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is Pakistan’s most important cricket ground. Originally built in 1959 and extensively renovated for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the 27,000-capacity venue has been at the centre of Pakistan cricket’s story for over six decades. The ground hosted the 1996 Cricket World Cup Final and has been the venue for countless historic Test matches and ODIs. The 2025 renovation brought world-class facilities, improved seating, and modern broadcast infrastructure to a venue that had already been the heartbeat of Lahore’s cricket culture.
Lahore’s cricketing heritage runs deep. The city has produced some of Pakistan’s greatest players, and the crowds at Gaddafi Stadium are among the most passionate in world cricket. The return of international cricket to Pakistan after the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team bus (which happened near the stadium) and the subsequent decade-long exile was one of cricket’s most emotional stories. The 2025 Champions Trophy, co-hosted by Pakistan and UAE, marked the country’s return as a major tournament host.
In 2026, Gaddafi Stadium serves as a primary venue for PSL 2026, hosting matches for Lahore Qalandars and other franchises throughout the March 26 to May 3 season. The ground will also host bilateral international cricket as Pakistan continues to rebuild its home schedule.
Lahore operates on Pakistan Standard Time (PKT, UTC+5). An evening PSL match at 19:00 PKT is 14:00 in London, 09:00 in New York, and 19:30 in India (30 minutes ahead). Check whatisthetime.now/lahore for current local time or whatisthetime.now/country/pakistan for Pakistani timezone details.