Sheikh Zayed Stadium, located in Abu Dhabi, UAE opened in 2004 has a capacity of 20,000 spectators. The stadium is also known as President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It cost $22 million to build this stadium and it’s one of the world’s finest grounds. There are two large stands on either end of the ground. Large grass banks are available for spectators to sit on in the square of the wicket, albeit this may not be the most desirable option during the day because there is no shade. The enormous changing facilities are located beneath one of the stands, so there isn’t really a pavilion. Instead, teams watch from air-conditioned glass chambers. The stadium is situated in a secluded area and is approximately 30 minutes’ drive from the city center. Lets learn about Sheikh Zayed Stadium more in this article below.
Sheikh Zayed Stadium Overview
| Established | 2004 |
| Capacity | 20,000 spectators |
| Ends name | North End, Pavilion End |
| Location | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Time Zone | UTC +04:00 |
| Home To | United Arab Emirates |
| Floodlights | Yes |
Sheikh Zayed Stadium: Pitch Report
For batters and spin bowlers in cricket, the brownish-tinged pitch’s barren patches of grass are perfect for the sport. On the slow side the wicket is flat which forms a paradise for batting. The hand task for the swing bowler is difficult. Getting the bounce is a little difficult because no grass is on the ground. Dry pitch helps slow seamers at early phase but with time the wicket gets flatter. Spin bowlers can do great with patience and performances which can be an asset in team matches.
Sheikh Zayed Stadium Pitch Conditions and Dimensions
When the weather is hot and pitches get dry , it favors batting teams in Test and ODI matches. The team who wins the toss gets the batting first. Because of the good spin created by the footmarks and the flat pitch, pin bowlers can help in reducing the chase in the second and third innings. The teams who win the toss, however, prefer to bowl first because dew has a significant impact on teams batting second in T20 and domestic limited-overs contests.
The Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium has two ends which are named as North end and Pavilion end. They are separated by a distance of 135 meters.
Sheikh Zayed Stadium Seating Map
Sheikh Zayed Stadium Test Match Pitch Report and Toss Factor
The team that wins the toss at Sheikh Zayed Cricket stadium Ground typically chooses to bat first. Then they post a winning score on the scorecard because the fast bowlers have a difficult time in the beginning due to the pitch’s lack of grass. In Test matches, the average first innings score is 350+. The average scores plummet because the bowlers must be patient and reliable. By the third and fourth innings, the footmarks of the bowlers from the day before improve the situation and the batters begin to find it difficult to spin the bowlers.
Let’s look at the 5 test matches average score of all 4 innings on this ground-
| Test Matches 1st Innings Average Score | 358 runs |
| Test Matches 2nd Innings Average Score | 340 runs |
| Test Matches 3rd Innings Average Score | 273 runs |
| Test Matches 4rth Innings Average Score | 165 runs |
STAT-TEST
Let’s look at the table below, which describes Stat test-
| Total Matches | 15 |
| Matches won batting first | 9 |
| Matches won bowling first | 2 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 360 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 341 |
| Average 3rd innings Score | 274 |
| Average 4rth innings Score | 136 |
| Highest total recorded | 598/9 (206 Ovs) By ENG vs PAK |
| Lowest total recorded | 72/10 (36.1 Ovs) By ENG vs PAK |
| Highest score chased | 108/4 (26.1 Ovs) By AFG vs ZIM |
| Lowest score defended | 114/10 (47.4 Ovs) By PAK vs SL |
Sheikh Zayed Stadium Stats-ODI
Let’s look at the table below, which describes ODI Stats-
| Total Matches | 54 |
| Matches won batting first | 36 |
| Matches won bowling first | 18 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 252 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 207 |
| Highest total recorded | 343/4 (50 Ovs) By RSA vs IRE |
| Lowest total recorded | 63/10 (18.3 Ovs) By AFG vs SCO |
| Highest score chased | 295/6 (49.5 Ovs) By PAK vs WI |
| Lowest score defended | 180/3 (20 Ovs) By UAE vs PNG |
Sheikh Zayed Stadium Stats-T20
Let’s look at the table below, which describes T20 Stats-
| Total Matches | 90 |
| Matches won batting first | 41 |
| Matches won bowling first | 49 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 136 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 123 |
| Highest total recorded | 225/7 (20 Ovs) By IRE vs AFG |
| Lowest total recorded | 54/10 (17.5 Ovs) By USAW vs THAIW |
| Highest score chased | 174/2 (17.4 Ovs) By RSA vs IRE |
| Lowest score defended | 93/8 (20 Ovs) By THAIW vs PNGW |
IPL Record at Sheikh Zayed Stadium
| Matches | 37 |
| Runs | 11305 |
| Highest Score | 235 |
| Lowest Score | 70 |
| Average | 305.5 |
Read More: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium || Men in Blue: India National Cricket Team
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi Image Gallery
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi Location
FAQ on Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
How many Twenty20 matches have been played at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium?
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium has hosted 180 20-20 matches till now.
The first ever 20-20 match was played between USA and Scotland on 9 February 2010.
How many spectators can visit Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium?
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium has a capacity of 20,000 spectators.
What is a team’s top T20 score at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium?
The highest score in T20 at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium was scored by Islamabad United’s 247/2 against Peshawar Zalmi in the 2021 Pakistan Super League.
Which team scored highest at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in T20s?
The highest individual score was made by Ireland’s William Porterfield in 2013 in a T20 in Abu Dhabi, when he scored an undefeated 127 against the USA.
Who is the best bowler at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in T20s?
The best bowling score at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium was 6/20 in four overs by Denmark’s Aftab Ahmed in a 2012 T20I match against Papua New Guinea.
