Karachi a city largely settled by the Muhajirs post-independence of India and Pakistan. The city has produced some of the stalwarts of Pakistan cricket with the likes of Javed Miandad. Indian team was scheduled to tour Pakistan in 1955, a couple of years before that in 1953 Pakistan PWD acquired 175 acres (21.6 acres of that land was acquired under Land Acquisition Act 1894) of land in Deh Okewari, County Club Road now known as Stadium Road via Commissioner of Karachi. The efficient work under Alhaj Kafiluddin in a record time.

The stadium witnessed the debut of some of the all-time greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Waqar Younis. Over the years the ground has turned into a fortress for Pakistan, to defeat Cornered Tigers in this ground is close to near impossible for any touring side. A great number of Muslim migrants from Junagadh, India settled in Karachi, the famous Mohammed brothers Wazir, Raees, Hanif, Mushtaq, and Sadiq, they made a very unique record of, at least one siblings representing Pakistan in their first 87 tests. Alim-ud-din scored the first test century at this ground, fast bowling friendly conditions was exploited by Karachi-born Indian player Gulabrai Ramchand (6-49) and Pakistan’s Fazal Mahmood (5-48) and Khan Mohammed (5-73). The new stadium gradually overshadowed the old Gymkhana Ground, with tests being played at this seventh test playing ground of the country. In the coming years, the ground was marked by some of the worst crowd invasions, to the extent that play was called off. The most beautiful aspect of the ground is steady wind which provides assistance to swing bowlers. On this ground in 1982 world winning skipper Imran Khan scalped his 200th test victim.

Pakistan first loss at this ground was in 2000 when Nasser Hussain led England registered a dramatic win to win their first ever series since 1961/62. Hussain after the remarkable chase “There was going to be a run chase, we needed some hitters in. I ran up to Ath, walking off the field, and went ‘Ath, what do you think about the batting line-up? I’m thinking of moving Hick up the order and moving you down the order.’ And Ath just swore at me and told me ‘I have been your best batsman on this trip, there is no way I’m moving down the order’. Put his pads on and went out and we knocked them off.”

The 1970s was a golden era for Karachites beside the street-smart genius of Javed Miandad, Liaqat Ali, Sikander Bakht, Iqbal Qasim, Haroon Rasheed, and Mohsin Khan represented Pakistan. The trend continued in the 80s also as Tauseef Ahmed, Mansoor Akhtar, Shoaib Mohammed, Asif Mujtaba, was reckoning force in Karachi cricket. Imtiaz Ahmed, Wasim Bari, and Anil Dalpat were the glovemen from Karachi. Wasim Bari was known for his skill and technique to keep against some of the great quickies. He went on to become the first Pakistani take 200 catches in Tests.

Out of 42 tests played so far at National Stadium Pakistan has lost just two tests. Australia did have a chance to beat Pakistan in 1994, the home team in quest for 314 were struggling at 184 for seven. The 52 runs stand between Inzamam and keeper Rashid Latif brought Pakistan back in the game. Steve trapped Latif and in quick succession Warne dismissed Waqar. The defeat seems to be the only possible with more than fifty runs to win. Inzamam held his ground and with Mushtaq put on record winning 57 runs for the last wicket to seal a memorable win against the Aussies. This was at that time record tenth wicket stand in a successful run chase.