Sylhet International Cricket Stadium

Sylhet Outer Cricket Stadium
সিলেট বহিঃস্থ ক্রিকেট স্টেডিয়াম
Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Academy Ground; SICS Ground 2
Ground information
Location	Sylhet, Bangladesh
International information
First WT20I	1 October 2022:; Bangladesh v Thailand
Last WT20I	5 October 2022:; Malaysia v United Arab Emirates
	As of 5 October 2022; Source: ESPNcricinfo

Sylhet Cricket Stadium
সিলেট আন্তর্জাতিক ক্রিকেট স্টেডিয়াম
	A view of the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium after its branding before hosting its inaugural test match between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in 2018.
Ground information
Location	Sylhet, Bangladesh
Coordinates	24°55′15″N 91°52′07″E / 24.92083°N 91.86861°E
Establishment	2007
Capacity	18,500
Operator	National Sports Council
Tenants	Sylhet Division cricket team ; Sylhet Strikers ; Bangladesh national cricket team
	End names
	UCB End; Runner End
International information
First Test	3–6 November 2018:; Bangladesh v Zimbabwe
Last Test	28 November–2 December 2023:; Bangladesh v New Zealand
First ODI	14 December 2018:; Bangladesh v West Indies
Last ODI	23 March 2023:; Bangladesh v Ireland
First T20I	17 March 2014:; Ireland v Zimbabwe
Last T20I	16 July 2023:; Bangladesh v Afghanistan
First WT20I	23 March 2014:; Australia v New Zealand
Last WT20I	15 October 2022:; India v Sri Lanka
	As of 28 November 2023; Source: ESPNcricinfo

Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (SICS) (Bengali: সিলেট আন্তর্জাতিক ক্রিকেট স্টেডিয়াম) also known as Sylhet Stadium and previously known as Sylhet Divisional Stadium, is a cricket stadium in Sylhet, Bangladesh. SICS is surrounded by hills and has a scenic view and it is the only cricket stadium having a green gallery.^[2] The stadium went a thorough expansion in 2013, to host matches for the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 and 2014 ICC Women's World Twenty20.^[3]^[4] The stadium hosted its first international match on 17 March 2014 with Ireland taking on Zimbabwe.^[5] The stadium hosted 2022 Women's Twenty20 Asia Cup.

History

The stadium was built in 2007, as a divisional cricket stadium.^[6] The stadium is surrounded by hills and has a scenic view. England Lions, England Under-19 and Nepal Under-19 have played here.

The venue hosted its first test match in November 2018, becoming the eighth test venue in Bangladesh, where the home team lost to Zimbabwe by 151 runs. The venue hosted its second test five years later, in 2023, since the first test match was played here in 2018.^[7]

In November–December 2023, Bangladesh played a test against New Zealand and won the match by 150 runs which was their first test win against New Zealand at home and their first test win at this venue.^[8]

Renovation and expansion

During the Second Day of test between Bangladesh and New Zeland in 2023.

The stadium was expanded and renovated to host matches of the 2014 ICC World Twenty20. The renovation began in June 2013 and ended in mid-November 2013. The main pavilion building and the media center have been constructed, floodlights have been installed, and seating arrangements were modified.^[9]^[10] Another more striking part of the stadium is the newly built, country's first 'Green gallery'.^[11]

The venue was again renovated in 2017 in order to upgrade the venue to an international standard stadium. A second tier was built in the east side gallery, increasing the seating capacity by 5,000 and the green hillock was remodified.^[12] As a result, the venue hosted the first leg of BPL 2017 matches.

Statistics

Format	P	H	T	N	D/N/T	Inaugural Match	Latest Match	Refs
Ground Figures^[13]
Test	2	1	1	0	0	2 December 2023		^[14]
ODIs	7	6	0	0	1	14 December 2018	23 March 2023	^[15]
T20Is	10	2	2	6	0	17 March 2014	16 July 2023	^[16]
Last updated: Bangladesh v New Zealand, 2 December 2023

Records

In a 2014 ICC World Twenty20 qualifying match between Ireland and Netherlands, both teams were fighting for a spot in the Super 10. Ireland batted first & scored 189–4. Netherlands needed to win the match within 13.5 overs to qualify for Super 10's. If they do so, they would qualify for Super 10's. If they only win the match without winning it in 13.5 overs, then Zimbabwe will qualify for the Super 10's. But if their current opponents win, then Ireland would be qualified. This match holds a few records.^[17]^[18]
- 1- Netherlands scored the fastest 100 in just 6.6 overs, the fastest for any team in T20I.^[17]^[18]
- 2- Netherlands scored the fastest 150 in just 10.3 overs, the fastest for any team in T20I.^[17]^[18]
- 3- Netherlands won the match with 37 balls to spare, the fastest win for any team in T20I chasing 180 runs.^[17]^[18]
Taijul Islam became only 4th Bangladeshi bowler to take a 10 wicket-haul in Test cricket. He also holds the record of third best bowling figure (11/170) in a test match by any Bangladeshi bowler.^[19]
In March 2020, when Zimbabwe toured Bangladesh, in the three-match ODI series, few records were created:^[20]
- In the first ODI:
  - Bangladesh won the match by 169 runs, their biggest winning margin in ODIs.
  - Mashrafe Mortaza took his 100th wicket as captain in ODIs and his 700th wicket of his career.
- In the Second ODI, Tamim Iqbal became the first batsman for Bangladesh to score 7,000 runs in ODIs.
- In the third ODI:
- Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das made a partnership of 292 runs which is the highest partnership for any wicket for Bangladesh.^[20]
  - Liton Das scored 176 runs off 143 balls, the highest individual score by any Bangladeshi batsman in ODIs.^[20]
  - Liton Das hit 8 sixes, and a total of 24 boundaries (16 fours and 8 sixes), the most by any Bangladeshi batsman in an ODI match.^[20]

International centuries

Shai Hope scored the first century at this ground in its inaugural ODI match when West Indies toured Bangladesh in 2018-19. While Liton Das became first Bangladeshi batsman to score a century at this venue when Zimbabwe toured Bangladesh in March 2020.

Test centuries

List of Test Centuries^[21]
No.	Score	Player	Team	Balls	Inns.	Opposing team	Date	Result
1	104	Kane Williamson	New Zealand	205	2	Bangladesh	28 November 2023	Lost
2	105	Najmul Hossain Shanto	Bangladesh	198	3	New Zealand	28 November 2023	Won

ODI centuries

List of ODI Centuries^[22]
No.	Score	Player	Team	Balls	Inns.	Opposing team	Date	Result
1	108*	Shai Hope	West Indies	131	1	Bangladesh	14 December 2018	Lost
2	126(rno)†	Liton Das	Bangladesh	105	1	Zimbabwe	1 March 2020	Won
3	158†	Tamim Iqbal	Bangladesh	136	1	Zimbabwe	3 March 2020	Won
4	176†	Liton Das	Bangladesh	143	1	Zimbabwe	6 March 2020	Won
5	128	Tamim Iqbal	Bangladesh	109	1	Zimbabwe	6 March 2020	Won
6	100†	Mushfiqur Rahim	Bangladesh	60	1	Ireland	20 March 2023	No result

Women's Twenty20 International centuries

The following table summarises the Women's Twenty20 International centuries scored at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.^[23]

No.	Score	Player	Team	Balls	Inns.	Opponent	Date	Result
1	126	Meg Lanning	Australia	65	1	Ireland	27 March 2014	Won

Under-19 ODI centuries

The following table summarises the Under-19 ODI centuries scored at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.^[24]

No.	Score	Player	Team	Balls	Inns.	Opponent	Date	Result
1	109	Najmul Hossain Shanto	Bangladesh	131	1	Sri Lanka	23 April 2013	Won