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Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium Pitch Report: Batting or Bowling, Weather & Match Insights for Asia Cup 2025

12 min
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium Pitch Report

The pitch at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi is generally a batter-friendly surface that offers plenty of opportunities for batters to dominate. As per its Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium pitch report, this is often a high-scoring ground where totals around 240–260 in ODIs and 130–150 in T20s can be considered competitive.

Named after President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, this Abu Dhabi cricket stadium has some unique qualities. The Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium pitch here provides early advantage to batters, but spinners can also play a key role as the innings progresses, making matches exciting and often high-scoring.

In the early overs, pacers get some bounce, but there is minimal seam movement, so openers who time the ball well can score freely. In the middle overs, spinners come into play to control the scoring rate, while the quick outfield allows batters to convert good deliveries into boundaries. The Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium pitch report suggests that teams batting first have an edge in ODIs and Tests, while T20 chases can sometimes be easier, which is why captains often prefer to bat first in longer formats. The Abu Dhabi Stadium cricket stadium has hosted some of the biggest teams in world cricket.

Pitch TypeBatter-friendly, high-scoring ground
Early OversPacers get bounce, minimal seam movement
Middle OversSpinners control scoring; batters can take advantage of fast outfield
Average ScoreODI: 252, T20I: 136
Average 1st InningsODI: 252, T20I: 136
Batting or BowlingBatting first often favored in ODIs and Tests; T20 chases slightly easier
Pace or Spin FriendlyPace early, spin effective later
Best Suited ForTeams with strong batting line-ups and balanced bowling options

Sheikh Zayed Stadium Overview

  • The pitch at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi is generally a batter-friendly one, offering plenty of opportunities for batters to dominate. Fast bowlers can extract some bounce early on, but with minimal seam movement, batters who settle in can make full use of the quick outfield to score freely. Average totals at this ground are high, with 240–260 in ODIs and 130–150 in T20s considered competitive.
  • The Sheikh Zayed Stadium cricket pitch report also shows that spinners become effective as the innings progresses, controlling the scoring rate and picking up crucial wickets in the middle overs. At Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium, teams batting first have traditionally had an edge in ODIs and Tests, while T20 chases can sometimes be slightly easier, which makes bowling first a less common choice. Overall, this stadium tends to favour batters but still allows bowlers to make an impact with the right strategies, according to the Abu Dhabi pitch report. The Sheikh Zayed Stadium boundary length is average, neither too big or small.
Stadium NameSheikh Zayed Stadium
LocationAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opened2004
Seating Capacity20,000
Boundary Size65 square meters and 76 meters long
EndsNorth End, Pavilion End
Weather ImpactDry conditions favor batting; under lights pace bowlers can extract extra bounce
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Sheikh Zayed Stadium Pitch Report

As per the Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch report, the venue is generally batter-friendly, giving batters a good chance to dominate while still offering some help to bowlers. Fast bowlers can get bounce early on, but with minimal seam movement, batters who settle in can make full use of the quick outfield to score freely. The Sheikh Zayed Stadium cricket pitch report shows that teams batting first in ODIs and Tests have historically had an edge, while in T20s, chasing sides can sometimes find it slightly easier.

CategoryDetails
Pitch BehaviourBatter-friendly with early bounce for pacers and spin control later
Best Suited ToTeams with strong batting line-ups and balanced bowling options

Sheikh Zayed Stadium Batting or Bowling Pitch

  • The Sheikh Zayed Stadium cricket pitch report says pacers can trouble batters with bounce early in the innings, but there is little seam movement, so openers who time the ball well can score freely. As the innings progress, spinners come into play to control the scoring rate and pick up key wickets.
  • While some very high totals have been made here, average scores are usually in the high range, making batting slightly easier overall. Chasing has been more successful in T20s, but in longer formats, batting first is often preferred. Overall, the pitch favours batters but allows bowlers to make an impact with smart strategies.

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Sheikh Zayed Stadium Highest Score

  • The highest Test score at this stadium is 598/9 in 206 overs, made by England against Pakistan. England’s batters dominated that day, building strong partnerships and scoring freely across the innings, showing that massive totals are possible on this surface.
  • In ODIs, the highest total recorded here is 343/4 in 50 overs, made by South Africa against Ireland. South Africa’s batting lineup looked very comfortable, hitting boundaries consistently and maintaining a high run rate throughout the innings, proving that this stadium can favour high-scoring games.
  • In T20Is, the highest total at Sheikh Zayed Stadium is 225/7 in 20 overs, scored by Ireland against Afghanistan. The Irish batters looked confident on this surface, finding gaps and clearing the boundary regularly, highlighting the batter-friendly nature of the pitch.

Sheikh Zayed Stadium Lowest Score

  • The lowest Test total at this venue is 72 all out in 36.1 overs, made by England against Pakistan. The bowling side dominated with disciplined lines, giving little chance for the batters to recover, showing that low scores are possible if bowlers exploit conditions well.
  • In ODIs, the lowest total recorded here is 63 all out in 18.3 overs, made by Afghanistan against Scotland. Afghanistan’s batting collapsed under pressure as the bowlers struck early and consistently, finishing the innings quickly.
  • In T20Is, the lowest total at Sheikh Zayed Stadium is 54 all out in 17.5 overs, made by USA Women against Thailand Women. USAW’s batters struggled from the start, losing wickets regularly, and the innings was wrapped up well before completing the full 20 overs.

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Sheikh Zayed Stadium Average Score

  • In ODIs, Sheikh Zayed Stadium usually produces decent totals with a balance between bat and ball. Teams batting first average around 252 runs, while teams batting second manage about 207 runs. This shows that batting first often gives an edge, though chasing has been done successfully on good batting days. High scores are possible, like South Africa’s 343 against Ireland, but teams have also collapsed badly here, such as Afghanistan being bowled out for 63. Most ODIs see totals between 230 and 270, with pacers getting help early and spinners coming into play later in the innings.
  • In T20Is, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium average score is about 136, and teams chasing average close to 123. It is not a flat batting paradise, which means bowlers stay in the contest throughout. Ireland’s 225 against Afghanistan is the highest seen here, while the USA Women were once bundled out for just 54, showing how tricky the pitch can get. Chasing is slightly more successful in T20s, but defending totals is also possible when spinners and slower bowlers are used smartly in the second innings.
CategoryScoreDetails
Highest Total Recorded343/4South Africa vs Ireland (ODI)
Lowest Total Recorded63/10Afghanistan vs Scotland (ODI)
Highest Score Chased295/6Pakistan vs West Indies (ODI)
Lowest Score Defended180/3UAE vs PNG (ODI)
Highest T20I Total225/7Ireland vs Afghanistan (T20I)
Lowest T20I Total54/10USA Women vs Thailand Women (T20I)
Highest T20I Chase174/2South Africa vs Ireland (T20I)
Lowest T20I Defended93/8Thailand Women vs PNG Women (T20I)

Average 1st Innings Score at Sheikh Zayed Stadium

In Tests, the average first innings score is around 360 runs, which shows it’s a good batting surface early on. But as the match progresses, scores dip sharply, especially in the fourth innings, where the average is just 136. In ODIs, the average first innings score stands at 252, which makes anything above 270–280 a challenging total here. In T20Is, the average first innings score is 136, so a score in the 150–160 range is generally competitive.

Average 2nd Innings Score & Chasing Record at Sheikh Zayed Stadium

In Tests, second innings teams usually manage 341 runs, but batting becomes tricky in the later stages, with the third and fourth innings averaging 274 and 136, respectively. The highest chase in Tests is just 108/4, showing that chasing big totals is almost impossible here. In ODIs, teams batting second average 207, though Pakistan once chased 295 successfully against the West Indies. In T20Is, the average second innings score is 123, and while teams have chased as high as 174, low totals like 93 have also been defended, proving how balanced the ground can be.

CategoryTestODIT20I
Average First Innings360252136
Average Second Innings341207123
Highest Successful Chase108/4295/6174/2
Chasing Win Percentage33%54%

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Sheikh Zayed Stadium Last 5 Matches Records

In the last five T20I matches at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, the contests have been evenly balanced, with both defending and chasing teams finding success. Ireland shocked South Africa with a 10-run win while the Proteas hit back strongly in the very next game. Earlier, the UAE and Afghanistan produced close finishes, with Afghanistan winning two matches and the UAE clinching one in style. For the last 5 matches, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium cricket pitch report shows that chasing has been slightly more reliable, as three out of five games were won by the team batting second.

StatsNumbers
Average First Innings159–172
Average Second Innings158–170
Highest Successful Chase174
Chasing Win Percentage60%

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Sheikh Zayed Stadium Weather

The weather at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, is expected to be mostly cloudy with no chances of rain, so the match should go ahead without interruptions. The Sheikh Zayed Stadium Weather Report shows temperatures will be around 38°C, with humidity at 46%. Winds will blow at around 16 km/h, which might offer some movement to the pacers in the evening, but overall, batting conditions should remain good.

Weather ReportDetails
WeatherMostly Cloudy
Temperature38°C
Humidity46%
Probability of Rain0%
Wind Speed16 km/h

Sheikh Zayed Stadium Weather Today

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium weather today is mostly cloudy with temperatures staying around 38°C. Humidity levels are moderate, and the absence of rain ensures smooth play. According to the Sheikh Zayed Stadium Weather Report, conditions will favor batsmen more, though the evening breeze could give bowlers some help.

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Sheikh Zayed Stadium ODI & T20 Stats

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium has also been an important venue for ODIs and T20Is, often producing balanced contests between bat and ball. ODIs here usually see first innings scores in the 250–260 range, while T20 matches are more moderate scoring, with an average in the mid-130s. Chasing has been tricky at times, especially in ODIs, but teams have still managed successful run chases with good partnerships.

ParameterODIsT20Is
Total Matches5490
Matches Won Batting First3641
Matches Won Bowling First1849
Average 1st Innings Score252136
Average 2nd Innings Score207123
Highest Total343/4 (RSA vs IRE)225/7 (IRE vs AFG)
Lowest Total63/10 (AFG vs SCO)54/10 (USAW vs THAIW)
Highest Successful Chase295/6 (PAK vs WI)174/2 (RSA vs IRE)
Lowest Total Defended180/3 (UAE vs PNG)93/8 (THAIW vs PNGW)

Sheikh Zayed Stadium Test Stats & Records

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi has hosted several Test matches, with the pitch generally favouring batters in the early innings while spinners and reverse swing bowlers often come into play as the match progresses. It is known for producing competitive red-ball cricket, where big first innings scores are common, but chasing in the fourth innings can be very difficult. Here are the key Test stats from the venue. Here are the Abu Dhabi pitch report batting or bowling stats. It's some of t

ParameterStats
Total Matches15
Matches Won Batting First9
Matches Won Bowling First2
Average 1st Innings Score360
Average 2nd Innings Score341
Average 3rd Innings Score274
Average 4th Innings Score136
Highest Total Recorded598/9 (ENG vs PAK, 206 Ovs)
Lowest Total Recorded72/10 (ENG vs PAK, 36.1 Ovs)
Highest Score Chased108/4 (AFG vs ZIM, 26.1 Ovs)
Lowest Score Defended114/10 (PAK vs SL, 47.4 Ovs)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the boundary of Sheikh Zayed Stadium?

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The boundary size at Sheikh Zayed Stadium is considered medium to large. The distance of the boundary usually ranges from around 65 to 76 meters from the center of the pitch, making it a fair ground for both batters and bowlers.

What is the capacity of Sheikh Zayed Stadium?

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The Sheikh Zayed Stadium has a seating capacity of about 20,000 spectators. For major international matches, temporary arrangements can increase the capacity slightly to host larger crowds.

What is the history of Sheikh Zayed Stadium?

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Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was opened in 2004 and has since become one of the premier cricket venues in the Middle East. It has hosted several ODIs, T20Is, and Tests, including matches of the IPL and international tournaments. The stadium is known for its modern facilities, excellent floodlights, and neutral venue reputation.

Which country is Sheikh Zayed Stadium located in?

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Sheikh Zayed Stadium is located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

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Edited by- Devesh Kumar
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