One of the modern facilities of Sri Lanka cricket is Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, which is situated close to the hill city Kandy. It opened up in 2009 and soon became an international venue of the sport with the ICC World Cup matches, T20 World Cup matches, and memorable cricketing records. The stadium has a seating capacity of approximately 35,000 and state of the art facilities that give it the privilege of being listed among the top three cricketing stadiums in Sri Lanka whereby it shares with the R. Premadasa stadium, Colombo and the Rangiri stadium in Dambulla.
This guide covers the pallekele international cricket stadium, history, location, capacity, facilities, records, historic matches and the further use of the stadium in world cricket.
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium: Overview
| Attribute | Details |
| Location | Pallekele, ~15 km east of Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| Opened | 27 November 2009 |
| Test Venue | Became 104th Test ground in December 2010 |
| Owner/Operator | Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) |
| Seating Capacity | ~35,000 |
| Ends | Hunnasgiriya End, Rikillagaskada End |
| Floodlights | Yes, installed in 2010 |
| Playing Area | ~80 m x 75 m |
| Design Inspiration | SuperSport Park, with grass banks and amphitheater style |
| ICC Events Hosted | 2011 Cricket World Cup, 2012 ICC World T20 |
- Location: The stadium is located on the A26 highway and 15 km east of Kandy. It is a gorgeous cricketing venue because of its scenic, hilly environment which helps to attract the fans.
- Ownership: Pallekele belongs to and is operated by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) where it is regularly used as the venue to host bilateral series, ICC events, and domestic tournaments such as the Lanka Premier League (LPL).
Pallekele Stadium: Establishment and History
Pallekele Stadium was Established on 27 November 2009 in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It was the 104th Test venue in the world just a year later in December 2010, with Sri Lanka vs. West Indies. It was constructed to replace the previous Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy, which had a better capacity, lights and modern facilities. The inaugural event to be hosted in the stadium was the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup where the stadium hosted three matches.
Pallekele Stadium Seating Capacity, Layout, and Architecture
The stadium has a seat capacity of 35,000. It was designed after the SuperSport Park in South Africa, particularly the grass embankments which make it look like a natural amphitheater. The media center is a three-storey edifice constructed to deliver a futuristic arrangement in order to guarantee the world cup coverage of high quality.
| Category | Features |
| Players | Dressing rooms, recovery areas, medical/massage zones |
| Practice | 16–17 outdoor nets, specialized training lanes |
| Media | Three-storey press and broadcast infrastructure |
| Fans | Comfortable seating, grass banks, catering, restrooms |
| Corporate | 16 corporate boxes, event suites, premium hospitality |
| Accessibility | Highway connectivity, parking, 15 km from Kandy |
Pallekele Stadium Pitch Report and Outfield Conditions
Pallekele pitch is regarded to be proportional allowing both batsmen and bowlers a chance.
- It can be used in Tests to help seamers with swing in cloudy conditions though it can also be used to have long batting periods.
- The mean first-innings score in ODIs is approximately 242 and the mean score of the second innings is less at 194 because of scoreboard pressure and dew.
- T20Is average score is in the 160s-170s and thus, it is a platform where high scores can be achieved.
Pitch Behaviour (In All Format)
| Format | Pitch Trend |
| Tests | Balanced, can favor spinners late in the game |
| ODIs | Avg 1st inns ~242; chasing possible but tricky |
| T20Is | Avg 1st inns ~165–170; defending totals more successful |
Floodlights, Ends, and Dimensions
In 2010, floodlights were installed, and the ground turned out to be a day-night venue.
Ends: Rikillagaskada End and Hunnasgiriya End
Dimensions: The dimensions of the playing area are approximately 80 m by 75 m, which is large enough to allow big hitting but light enough to be bowled.
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium: Iconic Matches Highlights
| Year | Match/Event | Highlight |
| 2011 | World Cup – SL vs Zimbabwe | Dilshan & Tharanga scored 282 for the 1st wicket (World Cup record) |
| 2012 | World T20 – NZ vs Ban | Brendon McCullum smashed 123, the highest T20I score at the time |
| 2012 | World T20 – SL vs Eng | Lasith Malinga’s 5-wicket haul stunned England |
| 2016 | SL vs Aus T20I | Australia posted 263/3, then a T20I world record |
| 2019 | SL vs NZ T20I | Malinga took 4 wickets in 4 balls and reached 100 T20I wickets |
These incidents have given Pallekele its status as a record and drama venue.
Records and Stats
- In the stadium, there have been certain incredible achievements in the field of cricket:
- Most Runs in an innings T20I: 263/3 Australia vs Sri Lanka 2016.
- Most Iconic Bowling Lasith Malinga 4 in 4 vs New Zealand (2019)
- Highlight of the world cup: 282-run partnership by Dilshan and Tharanga (2011 CWC)
- T20I Centuries: Dilshan (104), McCullum (123), Maxwell (145)
| Record | Details |
| Highest T20I team score | Australia 263/3 (2016) |
| Notable Bowling | Malinga 4-in-4 vs NZ (2019) |
| Highest World Cup Partnership | Dilshan/Tharanga 282 runs (2011) |
| T20I Centuries | Dilshan, McCullum, Maxwell |
Refurbishment and Contemporary Furnishings
Since the opening, the ground has been improved and it includes:
- State-of-the-art floodlights that are used in night matches.
- Improved drainage to address heavy rains in Kandy.
- Improvement of media and broadcasting infrastructure.
- Improved hospitality of ICC events and Lanka premier league.
Upcoming Events – LPL 2025
Pallekele is among the official sites of the Lanka Premier League 2025 which was to be held between November 27 and December 23, 2025. It will be a venue to various high profile matches such as prime-time games played under light.
Pallekele Cricket Stadium’s Comparison with Other Stadiums
Pallekele has a 35,000 capacity which is insignificant compared to the world leaders such as:
- Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad) -132,000 seats
- Melbourne Cricket Ground (Australia) -100,000 seats.
- Eden Gardens (India) – 68,000 seats
Yet, its contemporary design, picturesque location at the hill and balanced pitch are the factors that make it one of the most unique cricket fields in the world.
Why Pallekele Matters Today
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is not about the numbers it is more about the memories, the current standard of cricketing and the experience of fans.
- It has hosted the world cup matches.
- It has seen T20I records broken.
- It is a regular LPL venue.
- It still remains a sign of the modernization of cricket in Sri Lanka.
Pallekele will also keep being another cricketing hub in Central Province soon with LPL 2025 and with Sri Lanka continuing hosting bilateral series.
Conclusion
Pallekele international cricket stadium is a gem of a stadium in Sri Lanka. Since its inauguration in 2009, it has created a multi-format facility that has delivered memorable cricketing moments and offers state-of-the-art facilities to the players and fans. Since the 2011 World Cup matches have been hosted in Pallekele, Pallekele has turned out to be the venue where history is written, be it through the memorable 4 in 4 spell by Lasith Malinga. It will once again attract the world of cricket with the LPL 2025 which is going to be held soon. No matter whether you are a fan, player or a traveler, visiting Pallekele is not only a trip to watch cricket but also a picturesque place in the hill country of Sri Lanka.
FAQs
It is located about 15 km east of Kandy, Sri Lanka, on the A26 highway.
The stadium can hold around 35,000 spectators.
It hosted matches in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2012 ICC World T20.
Notable ones include Australia’s 263/3 in T20Is (2016) and Lasith Malinga’s four wickets in four balls vs New Zealand (2019)
Yes, it is one of the main venues of the LPL, along with Colombo and Dambulla.
Refresh Date: September 19, 2025
