Written by: Muhammad Suhayb
Posted on: September 23, 2021 | 
| 中文
Imam Kaaba and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto at the outskirt of National Stadium Karachi in 1976
As Pakistan Cricket Team started playing international cricket in the early 1950s, it was necessary that a ground of international standing is constructed. Built in 1955, National Stadium Karachi (NSK) was the first international quality cricket ground in the country. It has the capacity of 40,000 spectators, which makes it the largest cricket stadium in the country.
NSK during its Inaugural Test match in 1955
Known as the ‘Fortress of Pakistan Cricket’, Pakistan has lost only two tests in National Stadium Karachi, while winning 21 out of a total 43 test matches. Right from its very first game against India in 1955, up to December 2000, Pakistan has remained undefeated at this venue. While in the shorter format of the game, the defeats outnumber the victories at NSK. The venue hosted many matches in the 1987 and 1996 World Cups (WC), including the quarter final of 1996 WC.
NSK was the last stadium where Pakistan played its last complete international match, where Younus Khan scored a triple century, before terrorism related threats and the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore halted international cricket in the country for over 6 years, and on this ground for almost 9 years. Cricket came back to Karachi in full cry in 2018, when NSK hosted the final of Pakistan Super League on 25th March, and subsequently, a series against West Indies in April of that year.
An aerial view of NSK during PSL 3 final
This ground has hosted a number of political ceremonies, religious activities, wrestling games besides cricket, which gives the stadium unique importance as a political, cultural and sporting center of Karachi.
Aga Khan along with Iskandar Mirza at NSK for his enthronement ceremony
The first time National stadium Karachi got attention for an event other than cricket was in 1958. The event of ‘Takht Nashini’ (accession) of the 49th Imam of Shia Imami Ismaili sect, Aga Khan IV, was held at NSK in January 1958, where the then 21-year-old Prince Karim Aga Khan was enthroned in the presence of dignitaries from all over the world.
US President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Pakistani President Ayub Khan
National Stadium Karachi is the only cricket ground in history where a sitting American President, Dwight D Eisenhower, in 1959, witnessed a day’s play of a test match between Pakistan and Australia, accompanied by the Pakistani President Ayub Khan.
US President Dwight D. Eisenhower shaking hands meeting with Australian cricketers at NSK in 1959
The most famous non-cricketing event held at this ground, probably, was the fight between Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki and Pakistan’s Akram Pehelwan alias Akki on June 26, 1976. Earlier that year, Inoki had a match with the renowned boxer Muhammad Ali, where Inoki punched Ali’s legs over a hundred times in an exhibition fight in Tokyo, for which he was widely criticized. Bholu Pehelwan, Pakistan’s undisputed champion wrestler, also felt cheated by Inoki’s tactics and challenged Inoki to fight his aging brother Akki. Dubbed as a fight to avenge Muhammad Ali’s humiliation, the mismatch fight lasted few rounds and ended when Inoki dislocated Akki’s arm. Amid spectators of over 50,000, there was a pin drop silence when Akki cried in pain.
NSK has been the host of many ceremonies of religious nature. In 1976, Imam-e-Kaaba, the most revered personality for Muslims, visited Pakistan and led Juma Prayers. The prayers were held in a ground adjacent to the stadium, however, many worshippers were accommodated at the National Stadium due to lack of space. Pope John Paul II also visited Karachi, while on his way to Manila in 1981. The pontiff held a Mass service at the NSK amid tight security, although he had only three and a half hours break in Karachi.
Pope John Paul II at the NSK
Besides religious, political, and sports events, NSK has also been center of many literary events. Karachi’s security situation deteriorated by the late 1980s. The emergence of ethnic and religio-political parties, and the rise of terror groups held the ‘city of lights' hostage for years. To bring the city back to normalcy, a series of aalmi mushairas (international poetic symposium) were planned. The first mushaira was held in March 1989 at NSK, and with the presence of stalwarts like Kaifi Azmi, Akhtarul Iman and Khumar Barabankvi from India, and Parveen Shakir, Himayat Ali Shair, and Dilawar Figar from Pakistan, the event turned out to be a huge success. Over 20,000 people attended the event at National Stadium, which has become a regular feature since then. From 1989 to 2006, the event was postponed only twice due to some unforeseen circumstances.
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