The Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, located in Chattogram, Bangladesh, is one of the most beautiful and important cricket venues in the country. It was earlier known by several names, including Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium and Bir Shrestha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium. In March 2025, the stadium was renamed in honor of Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman, one of Bangladesh’s greatest war heroes.
This ground has been a central part of Bangladesh cricket history – from hosting matches during the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup to witnessing record-breaking performances in Tests and ODIs. It is currently the main cricket venue of Chattogram and the home ground of the Chattogram Challengers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
Overview of Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Chattogram, Bangladesh |
| Also Known As | Chittagong Divisional Stadium, Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium |
| Opened | 2006 (as international venue) |
| Capacity | 20,000 |
| Ends | Isphani End, UCB End |
| Home Teams | Bangladesh National Team, Chattogram Division, Chattogram Challengers (BPL) |
| Floodlights | Yes |
| Time Zone | UTC +06:00 |
| Named After | Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman |
| Upcoming Matches | West Indies Tour of Bangladesh 2025 (Oct 29 & Oct 31), Ireland Tour of Bangladesh 2025 (Nov 27 & Nov 29) |
History of the Stadium
The stadium was built as a part of Bangladesh’s expansion for international cricket and became a Test venue in 2006 during the Sri Lanka tour. It hosted two matches of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, marking its global importance. The ground is located about half an hour’s drive from Chattogram city centre and offers scenic views of the port and nearby hills.
Over time, it has hosted several historic cricketing moments:
- West Indies’ 395-run chase in 2021 was the highest successful run chase in Asia and 5th highest in Test history.
- Mominul Haque scored centuries in both innings against Sri Lanka in 2018 – a record for a Bangladeshi player.
- Shakib Al Hasan took his 200th Test wicket here, becoming the fastest cricketer to achieve the 3,000 runs and 200 wickets double.
Pitch Report
The surface at Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium offers a balanced contest between bat and ball.
- Pace Bowling: Average assistance early on with some swing and movement, especially under lights.
- Spin Bowling: Becomes more influential as the match progresses; spinners get turn and bounce.
- Batting Conditions: Good for shot-making early but tends to slow down, making run-scoring tougher in later stages.
Overall, it’s an average batting surface where totals around 150 in T20s, 250–280 in ODIs, and 350–400 in Tests are competitive.
Ground Records Overview
| Format | Total Matches | Won Batting 1st | Won Bowling 1st |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test Matches | 26 | 11 | 8 |
| One-Day Internationals (ODIs) | 31 | 11 | 20 |
| Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) | 35 | 18 | 17 |
Test Records
| Stats | Values |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 26 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 11 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 8 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 381 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 328 |
| Average 3rd Innings Score | 222 |
| Average 4th Innings Score | 226 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 713/9 (199.3 Ov) by Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 111/10 (46.2 Ov) by Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh |
| Highest Score Chased | 395/7 (127.3 Ov) by West Indies vs Bangladesh |
| Lowest Score Defended | 139/10 (35.2 Ov) by West Indies vs Bangladesh |
ODI Records
| Stats | Values |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 31 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 11 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 20 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 226 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 191 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 409/8 (50 Ov) by India vs Bangladesh |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 44/10 (24.5 Ov) by Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh |
| Highest Score Chased | 288/3 (42.1 Ov) by Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe |
| Lowest Score Defended | 169/9 (43 Ov) by Bangladesh vs Afghanistan |
T20I Records
| Stats | Values |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 35 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 18 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 17 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 147 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 129 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 207/5 (19.2 Ov) by Bangladesh vs Ireland |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 39/10 (10.3 Ov) by Netherlands vs Sri Lanka |
| Highest Score Chased | 190/4 (19.2 Ov) by England vs Sri Lanka |
| Lowest Score Defended | 120/6 (20 Ov) by Bangladesh Women vs Pakistan Women |
Weather Report for Upcoming Matches
| Location | Weather | Temperature | Humidity | Rain Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattogram | Warm and humid, partly cloudy | 30°C (Day) / 26°C (Night) | Around 70% | Low (~10%) |
The weather in Chattogram is expected to be humid but mostly dry, making it favorable for cricket. Light dew may form during evening matches, giving chasing teams a slight advantage in limited-overs games.
FAQs
Q.1 What is the seating capacity of Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium?
Ans. The stadium can hold around 20,000 spectators.
Q.2 What makes this stadium special?
Ans. It hosted Bangladesh’s first-ever Test win, World Cup matches, and Asia’s highest Test run chase.
Q.3 Is the pitch batting or bowling friendly?
Ans. It’s a balanced pitch — good for batters early, with spinners taking control later.
Q.4 Which teams are scheduled to play next here?
Ans. Bangladesh vs West Indies (Oct 29 & 31, 2025) and Bangladesh vs Ireland (Nov 27 & 29, 2025).
