The Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad is named after the great Pakistani poet Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal. It is a very famous and one of the most loved cricket ground in Pakistan. The Iqbal stadium has brilliant facilities and a good pitch and outfield. However, weather has often played villain and many a times matches have been held up and even cancelled due to bad weather conditions. Fog and bad light have been the two major factors in halting play at the ground over the years. Nonetheless, the ground has been witness to a number of thrilling innings and matches and is also, unfortunately remembered for being the venue where the infamous spat between Mike Gatting and Shakoor Rana occurred in 1987. Batsmen have always found an easy outing at the Iqbal Stadium but that is not to say that the ground is not suited for the bowlers. Pakistan were once dismissed for just 96 runs by the South African bowlers in 1997-'98. The first Test at the Iqbal stadium was played in 1978 while the ground first hosted an ODI in 1984.