Iqbal Stadium, formerly known as Lyallpur Stadium, was constructed in the early 1970s to accommodate Faisalabad’s growing demand for cricket. The name was later altered in commemoration of Pakistan’s national poet, Muhammad Iqbal.
Pakistan and India played their first Test match at the venue in October 1978. The first One Day International (ODI) between Pakistan and New Zealand took place in November 1984.
The stadium has served as a major location for domestic cricket competitions, including the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Pakistan’s domestic cricket system has included the Faisalabad cricket team, which hosts its matches at Iqbal Stadium.
Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad will host international cricket once more after around 20 years.
Two Twenty20 International matches against Bangladesh have been scheduled by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on May 25 and 27, 2025. In the five-match T20I series, Lahore will host the final three matches.
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A draft schedule for the five Twenty20 International series has been made public by the Pakistan Cricket Board. On May 25 and 27, the first two games will be played at the Faisalabad Cricket Stadium. This event is being celebrated by the city and its cricket-loving citizens, who haven’t seen the national team play live there in over a decade. Outside of Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, the PCB is trying to increase the number of cities where elite cricket is played.
The final three series games will take place on May 30, June 1, and June 3 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The Bangladeshi cricket team is expected to arrive in Pakistan on May 21, a few days before the series begins. Pakistan’s final home series before the T20 World Cup will be this one. According to reports, the PCB is considering a combination of young and seasoned players for the series.
In addition to youthful pacer Ali Raza, who might be given a debut after making an impression during PSL 2025, Sahibzada Farhan, Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, and Hasan Ali are also being evaluated.
A major milestone has been reached with the return of international matches to Iqbal Stadium, reigniting the city’s fervent cricketing culture.