Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Pitch Report: United Arab Emirates is one of the prominent nations to host a cricket tournament. Despite the UAE not having a full-member side in cricket, they keep playing cricket as an associate nation and host big tournaments like the ICC or other multinational tournaments. Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium is one of the premier cricket venues in the UAE, which is named after the founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
It was established in 2004, and it hosted its maiden first-class match in 2004. The first T20I played here was in 2004, and the first test was hosted here in 2010. It was built at a cost of USD 23 million and was the main venue during the T20 World Cup 2021.
It also hosted some IPL matches during the 2014 and 2020 editions. The Emirates Cricket Board runs and supervises all the operations in this cricket venue. This venue is located at Sas Al Nakhl Area, Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It offers a capacity of 20000 spectators at once, and it is a sight to watch during a cricket match here. So, let’s talk about this stadium and its past briefly.
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Details
| Location | Sas Al Nakhl Area, Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| Opened | 2004 |
| Capacity | 20,000 |
| Shortest Boundary Distance | 65-67 meters (Approx) |
| Longest Boundary Distance | 70-72 meters (Approx) |
| Bowling Ends | North End and Pavilion End |
| Highest Total (T20Is) | 225/7 (20 Ov) by IRE vs AFG |
| Lowest Total (T20Is) | 54/10 (17.5 Ov) by USAW vs THAIW |
| Flood Lights | Yes |
| Pitch | Grass |
Also see: Sheikh Zayed Stadium Upcoming Matches
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
The wicket at Sheikh Zayed Stadium offers a firm surface, which keeps the bounce consistent throughout the match. It has good bounce and carry, and batters enjoy batting here. However, as the ball becomes soft, it might start turning and gripping.
That makes spinners or slow bowlers more interested in this surface. The conditions in two innings can vary because of the slowness of the pitch. Hence, it is a surface where you can go with a spin-heavy attack. The average score here in T20Is is 136 across 90 T20Is played until now.
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Records: Overall Ground Stats
| Format | Played | Bat | Bowl | Drawn/NR |
| Tests | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 |
| ODIs | 54 | 36 | 18 | 0 |
| T20Is | 90 | 41 | 49 | 0 |
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Stats & Records (Format-wise)
Sheikh Zayed Stadium has hosted more than 150 matches across all formats. It was once a home venue for Pakistan after 2009, when there was no cricket being played in Pakistan due to security reasons. In T20Is, this venue has hosted 90 matches. 41 have been won by the team batting first, while the other 49 have ended in favor of the chasing side. Below you can see the overall record at this venue, format-wise.
STATS – T20Is
| Total matches | 90 |
| Matches won batting first | 41 |
| Matches won bowling first | 49 |
| Average 1st Inns scores | 136 |
| Average 2nd Inns scores | 123 |
| Highest total recorded | 225/7 (20 Ov) by IRE vs AFG |
| Lowest total recorded | 54/10 (17.5 Ov) by USAW vs THAIW |
| Highest score chased | 174/2 (17.4 Ov) by RSA vs IRE |
| Lowest score defended | 93/8 (20 Ov) by THAIW vs PNGW |
STATS – TEST
| Total matches | 15 |
| Matches won batting first | 9 |
| Matches won bowling first | 2 |
| Average 1st Inns scores | 360 |
| Average 2nd Inns scores | 341 |
| Average 3rd Inns scores | 274 |
| Average 4th Inns scores | 136 |
| Highest total recorded | 598/9 (206 Ov) by ENG vs PAK |
| Lowest total recorded | 72/10 (36.1 Ov) by ENG vs PAK |
STATS – ODI
| Total matches | 54 |
| Matches won batting first | 36 |
| Matches won bowling first | 18 |
| Average 1st Inns scores | 252 |
| Average 2nd Inns scores | 207 |
| Highest total recorded | 343/4 (50 Ov) by RSA vs IRE |
| Lowest total recorded | 63/10 (18.3 Ov) by AFG vs SCO |
| Highest score chased | 295/6 (49.5 Ov) by PAK vs WI |
| Lowest score defended | 180/3 (20 Ov) by UAE vs PNG |
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Weather Report
| Venue | Rain Update | Temperature | Humidity | Probability of Rain |
| Sheikh Zayed Stadium | Sunny with No Rain | 35-37°C | 40-55% | 0% |
There are 8 matches scheduled to be played at Sheikh Zay. According to the weather forecast, there is no sign of rain, and it is likely to be hot and humid. The temperature is predicted to be between 36 and 38°C during September, while the wind speed is predicted to vary between 16 and 20 kmph.
FAQs
What is the T20I record at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi?
A total of 90 T20Is have been played at this venue. The team batting first has won 41 matches, and the chasing side has won 49 games.
What is the boundary size of Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi?
The straight boundary is off 70-72 meters, while the square boundaries are off 65-67 meters.
What is the weather forecast for upcoming T20I match at Sheikh Zayed Stadium?
The weather will be clear and sunny, with the temperature ranging around 37°C with 35-50 percent humidity.
