The MA Aziz Stadium (Bengali: এম এ আজিজ স্টেডিয়াম; also known as Chittagong Stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The local cricket and football teams play there and it is sometimes used by the Bangladesh national football team.[1] Its total capacity is 30,000.[2] On a historical note, this stadium was used as headquarters during the war for independence in 1971. The stadium serves as the main football venue of Chittagong as main cricket venue of the port city has been shifted to the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. It is the home venue of Chittagong Abahani in Bangladesh Premier League (football). Since 2015, the stadium is hosting Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup, country’s only international club football tournament organised by Chittagong Abahani.

MA Aziz Stadium
during the local cricket match at M.A. Aziz Stadium
Ground information
LocationChittagong
Capacity30,000
OwnerChittagong Division
OperatorBangladesh, Chittagong Abahani, Chittagong Mohammedan
TenantsChittagong Abahani (Football)
End names
Pedrollo End
Ispahani End
International information
First Test15–19 November 2001:
 Bangladesh v  Zimbabwe
Last Test6–10 January 2005:
 Bangladesh v  Zimbabwe
First ODI27 October 1988:
 Bangladesh v  India
Last ODI26 January 2005:
 Bangladesh v  Zimbabwe
Source: M. A. Aziz Stadium, Cricinfo

History

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On 1 January 1955 Indian team led by Vinoo Mankad came to play in the newly built stadium. Their opponents were East Pakistan Sports Federation. Then the stadium was called Niaz Stadium, after the name of District Administrator of that time who helped to build it. Then the name of the mountain covered aria was Jongli Polton. Later it was changed. After the Mankad's team the stadium welcomed Donald Carr of MCC. MCC also came once more after the war of liberation. In 1976–77 the name of the stadium was changed to Chattagram Jilla Krira Porishod (Chittagong District Sports Organization) stadium. It was under the PG of that district.

 
during the local match at M.A. Aziz Stadium

The stadium became the centre of Chittagong's sports over the years. In 1957–58 Chittagong Commerce College met Jogonnath College at the final of the Inter College Cricket. Chittagong team was runners up. At the outer part of the stadium Star Jubo and Star Summer tournaments were also held. East Bengal also came to play. In the 1980s cricket started to be influenced by Asgar, Abedin and Ispahani family. Many of the National Team cricketers like Minhajul Abedin, Akram Khan, Shaheedur Rahman and Nurul Abedin started their careers here. Later tournaments like Star Jubo and Star Summer had stopped.

The first One Day International (ODI) took place back on 27 October 1988 during the 1988 Asia Cup. Bangladesh's opponent was India and Pakistan in those two matches. Bangladesh lost the matches by 9 wickets and 173 runs respectively. Bangladesh played 7 Tests and 8 ODIs so far at this ground. The stadium made a debut as the 82nd test venue on 15 November 2001 with the Test match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

The venue has also hosted group stage matches of 2004 and 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup matches.

The stadium is the main football venue of port city, it hosted matches during the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup and is also a regulars venue for the Chittagong Football League.

Stats and records

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The venue has hosted

BPL 2013

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After a long time the M. A. Aziz Stadium hosted cricket matches of the second edition of Bangladesh Premier League, along with Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka and Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna. Home team Chittagong Kings played 4 matches here.[3] 10 matches were played from 25 January to 2 February 2013.[4]

28 January
14:00
Scorecard
Chittagong Kings
172/6 (20 overs)
v
Sylhet Royals
176/7 (19.3 overs)
Naeem Islam 72 (52)
Sohag Gazi 2/21 (3.1 overs)
Mohammad Nabi 43 (26)
Kevon Cooper 3/21 (4 overs)
Sylhet Royals won by 3 wickets
M. A. Aziz Stadium, Chittagong
Umpires: Jeremy Lloyds (Eng) and Tanvir Ahmed (Ban)
Player of the match: Mohammad Nabi (Sylhet Royals)

28 January
18:00 (D/N)
Scorecard
Duronto Rajshahi
213/6 (20 overs)
v
Barisal Burners
209/7 (20 overs)
Tamim Iqbal 66 (47)
Alok Kapali 3/23 (4 overs)
Azhar Mahmood 54 (28)
Abul Hasan 2/43 (4 overs)
Duronto Rajshahi won by 4 runs
M. A. Aziz Stadium, Chittagong
Umpires: Anisur Rahman (Ban) and Gazi Sohel (Ban)
Player of the match: Charles Coventry (Duronto Rajshahi)

29 January
14:00
Scorecard
Dhaka Gladiators
158/5 (20 overs)
v
Sylhet Royals
127/8 (20 overs)
Darren Stevens 55* (35)
Mominul Haque 1/18 (2 overs)
Mushfiqur Rahim 41 (37)
Alfonso Thomas 2/12 (4 overs)
Dhaka Gladiators won by 31 runs
M. A. Aziz Stadium, Chittagong
Umpires: Jeremy Lloyds (Eng) and Masudur Rahman (Ban)
Player of the match: Darren Stevens (Dhaka Gladiators)

29 January
18:00 (D/N)
Scorecard
  Rangpur Riders
122 (20 overs)
v
Khulna Royal Bengals
89 (18.4 overs)
Kevin O' Brien 24 (30)
Daniel Harris 3/22 (4 overs)
Asif Ahmed 19 (18)
Fidel Edwards 4/11 (3.4 overs)
Rangpur Riders won by 33 runs
M. A. Aziz Stadium, Chittagong
Umpires: Anisur Rahman (Ban) and Mahfuzur Rahman (Ban)
Player of the match: Fidel Edwards (Rangpur Riders)

31 January
14:00
Scorecard
Sylhet Royals
126 (19.3 overs)
v
  Rangpur Riders
122 (19.3 overs)
Shamsur Rahman 52 (46)
Sohag Gazi 3/20 (4 overs)
Sylhet Royals won by 5 wickets
M. A. Aziz Stadium, Chittagong
Umpires: Jeremy Lloyds (Eng) and Tanvir Ahmed (Ban)
Player of the match: Nazmul Hossain Milon (Sylhet Royals)

31 January
18:00 (D/N)
Scorecard
Barisal Burners
182/5 (20 overs)
v
Chittagong Kings
176/6 (20 overs)
Sabbir Rahman 40 (27)
Kevon Cooper 2/27 (4 overs)
Brendan Taylor 51 (42)
Elias Sunny 3/24 (4 overs)
Barisal Burners won by 6 runs
M. A. Aziz Stadium, Chittagong
Umpires: Anisur Rahman (Ban) and Tanvir Ahmed (Ban)
Player of the match: Azhar Mahmood (Barisal Burners)

1 February
14:30
Scorecard
Dhaka Gladiators
137/5 (20 overs)
v
Duronto Rajshahi
124/9 (20 overs)
Owais Shah 43 (40)
Taijul Islam 2/24 (4 overs)
Tamim Iqbal 33 (18)
Mosharraf Hossain 2/17 (4 overs)
Dhaka Gladiators won by 13 runs
M. A. Aziz Stadium, Chittagong
Umpires: Jeremy Lloyds (Eng) and Gazi Sohel (Ban)
Player of the match: Alfonso Thomas (Dhaka Gladiators

1 February
18:30 (D/N)
Scorecard
Chittagong Kings
137/2 (18 overs)
v
Khulna Royal Bengals
136/5 (20 overs)
Brendan Taylor 69 (49)
Sanjamul Islam 1/26 (4 overs)
Riki Wessels 35 (32)
Enamul Haque Jr. 3/28 (4 overs)
Chittagong Kings won by 8 wickets
M. A. Aziz Stadium, Chittagong
Umpires: Mahfuzur Rahman (Ban) and Masudur Rahman (Ban)
Player of the match: Brendan Taylor (Chittagong Kings)

2 February
14:30
Scorecard
Barisal Burners
152/6 (20 overs)
v
Duronto Rajshahi
153/6 (19.4 overs)
Azhar Mahmood 57 (34)
Dilshan Munaweera 2/18 (4 overs)
Jahurul Islam 57 (38)
Azhar Mahmood 2/20 (4 overs)
Duronto Rajshahi won by 4 wickets
M. A. Aziz Stadium, Chittagong
Umpires: Jeremy Lloyds (Eng) and Gazi Sohel (Ban)
Player of the match: Jahurul Islam (Duronto Rajshahi)

2 February
19:30 (D/N)
Scorecard
Dhaka Gladiators
88/8 (20 overs)
v
Chittagong Kings
142 (20 overs)
Mohammad Ashraful 33 (48)
Jacob Oram 2/7 (4 overs)
Naeem Islam 50 (38)
Alfonso Thomas 2/11 (4 overs)
Chittagong Kings won by 54 runs
M. A. Aziz Stadium, Chittagong
Umpires: Mahfuzur Rahman (Ban) and Masudur Rahman (Ban)
Player of the match: Naeem Islam (Chittagong Kings)

Outer Stadium

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Immediately east of MA Aziz Stadium lies Outer Stadium. Owned by the Bangladesh Army, it is on a 99-year lease to the Chittagong District Sports Association (Chattagram Jila Krira Sangstha or CJKS). By 2012, Outer Stadium was almost never being used for sports, instead being used to host various fairs.[5] The Chattogram Zila Krira Sangstha Swimming Complex opened in 2019 on one acre of the site.[6] In 2020, only one corner of the remaining ground could be used for batting and bowling practice. The rest of the field was described by bdnews24.com as an overgrown, waterlogged dump, "unusable for sports" because of chronic neglect and lack of maintenance.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Bangladesh national football team statistics and records: attendances". 11v11.com. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  2. ^ "A full house watches BPL matches in Chittagong". The Independent. Dhaka. 29 January 2013. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013.
  3. ^ "BPL 2013 to kick off on January 17". ESPNcricinfo. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  4. ^ "BPL Fixtures and schedule". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  5. ^ Chakraborty, Pranabesh (8 May 2012). "No games, only fairs at Outer Stadium". The Daily Star.
  6. ^ Silmy, Yasir (28 August 2019). "Modern swimming pool set to open in Sept". Daily Sun.
  7. ^ "Chattogram playgrounds, once launchpad for national players, are left in utter neglect". bdnews24.com. 31 August 2020.
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22°21′21″N 91°46′04″E / 22.355841°N 91.767769°E / 22.355841; 91.767769