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KARACHI, March 12: Dhaka's Bangabandhu National Stadium will be hosting a Test match after a gap of 29 years and 120 days when Pakistan play Sri Lanka in the final of the Asian Test Championship on March 12.

In all Bangabandhu National Stadium (formerly known as Dhaka Stadium) has staged 7 Test matches.

The first Test match staged on the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka was between Pakistan and India in 1954-55 on Jan 1, 2, 3, 4, 1955. It was also the first-ever official Test match played on Pakistani soil which ended in a draw. In four days only 710 runs were scored off 387.3 overs; an average of 1.83 runs per over. This was also the first first-class match played on this ground.

New Zealand played a Test here on their 1955-56 tour which was spoiled by rain. Next visitors to this ground were the West Indians who lost the Test to Pakistan by 41 runs in 1958-59 thanks to Fazal Mahmood's devastating bowling who claimed 12 wickets for 100 runs in the match. Richie Benaud's Australians won their Test match on this ground by 8 wickets against Pakistan in 1959-60. England drew the next two Tests on this ground in 1961-62 and 1968-69.

New Zealand played the last Test against Pakistan on this ground in 1969-70. They drew this match and took the series by 1-0 margin. This was their first series win since they started playing Test cricket in 1930.

Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka will also become the fourth Test Ground in the history of Test cricket to stage a Test match where the home country is not involved. The first three are Old Trafford, Lord's and Trent Bridge in England. These grounds became neutral Test venues in the Triangular Test series between England, Australia and South Africa in 1912 when they staged the three Tests involving Australia and South Africa.

Bangabandhu National Stadium is located in the north of the main city area near Purana Paltan Road and Bangabandhu Avenue. The outer rim of the stadium holds an entire shopping centre plus other offices, including the Bangladesh Cricket Board. It is a bowl-shaped ground with floodlights and an electronic scoreboard. The two ends are known as Pavilion End and Paltan End.

Following are a few records:

• First Test Match Pakistan v India, 1954-55

• Highest innings total 439 by England, 1961-62

• Lowest innings total 70 by New Zealand, 1955-56

• Highest match aggregate 1086-27 Pakistan v England, 1961-62

• Lowest match aggregate 537-40 Pakistan v West Indies, 1958-59

• Highest individual score 165 by G. Pullar for England, 1961-62

• Highest wicket partnership 198 for 1st wicket by G. Pullar & R.W.Barber for England, 1961-62

• Best innings bowling analysis 6/21 by Khan Muhammad against New Sealand, 1955-56

• Best Match bowling analysis 12/100 by Fazal Mahmood against West Indies,