Tests at Qadhafi Stadium

KARACHI, April 4: Pakistan, who are desperately in need of inspiration to combat the competitive Indians in the current series, have a good track record at the Qadhafi Stadium in Lahore. The second Test, which begins on Monday, will be the 35th Test and the fifth against India on this ground.

Lahore, in fact, had staged 38 Tests in all, with three taking place at the Bagh-i-Jinnah, including the drawn Test against India in 1954-55, with Pakistan winning against New Zealand in 1955-56 and losing by innings to the West Indies in 1958-59.

Of the previous 34 Tests at the Qadhafi Stadium since 1959-60, Pakistan won nine, lost six and drew the remaining 19. In the last Test played, Pakistan defeated Graeme Smith's South Africans by eight wickets in October 2003.

The last four Tests between Pakistan and India have all ended in stalemate on batting featherbeds. But the first meeting between them at Qadhafi Stadium in 1978-79 finished in great excitement when Pakistan romped to an eight-wicket victory in a game highlighted by Zaheer Abbas's superlative unbeaten 235.

Pakistan's biggest victory in Tests was achieved on this ground when New Zealand were hammered by innings and 324 runs in 2001-02. Two of their tormentors, Inzamamul Haq and Shoaib Akhtar, are in the current squad. Inzamam made a memorable 329, easily his highest score, while Shoaib terrorised the Kiwis with career-best figures of six for 11.

Result-wise list of Test matches played at Lahore's Qadhafi Stadium in chronological order:

1959-60: Pakistan lost to Australia by seven wickets.

1961-62: Pakistan lost to England by five wickets.

1964-65: Pakistan drew with New Zealand.

1968-69: Pakistan drew with England.

1969-70: Pakistan lost to New Zealand by five wickets.

1972-73: Pakistan drew with England.

1974-75: Pakistan drew with West Indies.

1976-77: Pakistan beat New Zealand by six wickets.

1977-78: Pakistan drew with England.

1978-79: Pakistan beat India by eight wickets.

1979-80: Pakistan drew with Australia.