South Africa vs Afghanistan: Historic 250 ODIs at Sharjah Cricket Ground

South Africa vs Afghanistan: A Historic Encounter

South Africa and Afghanistan kicked off a three-match ODI series on Wednesday (September 18) at the Sharjah Cricket Ground, marking a historic occasion for the venue. Known for its rich cricketing history, the Sharjah Cricket Ground has achieved a unique record of hosting 250 ODI matches. This match sets the stage for the first bilateral series between these teams in any format.

Sharjah Cricket Ground: A Venue Like No Other

Over the years, the Sharjah Cricket Ground has served as an adopted home for the Afghanistan cricket team. During the series opener, it became clear that this iconic venue has played a significant role in international cricket. Here’s a quick overview of the top stadiums by ODI matches hosted:

• Sharjah Cricket Ground, UAE: 250 ODIs
• Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe: 182 ODIs
• Sydney Cricket Ground, Australia: 161 ODIs
• Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia: 151 ODIs
• R Premdasa Stadium, Sri Lanka: 151 ODIs

The first ODI at Sharjah was played on April 6, 1984, between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Over the years, multiple match-winning performances have taken place, making it memorable for cricket fans. While it leads in ODI matches, Sharjah has only hosted four Test matches and 38 T20Is. Fans recall the legendary innings by Sachin Tendulkar against Australia in 1998, fondly remembered as 'Desert Storm'.