Change in venues on cards for Pakistan, England Test series

Due to the ongoing development work in two major stadiums of Pakistan, the Test series against England is highly likely to be played at a neutral venue.

According to reports, with renovation work is at full swing at the National Bank Stadium Karachi and Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing challenges in hosting England.

It is likely that the World Test Championship matches to be played in either UAE or Sri Lanka.

The series is scheduled to kick off with from October 7 in Multan, followed by the second Test from October 15 in Karachi, and the third from October 24 to 28 in Rawalpindi.

Construction work in Rawalpindi, akin to ongoing projects in Lahore and Karachi, poses significant challenges for the board as it prepares to host the ICC Champions Trophy next year.

If the construction is paused to accommodate the series, it will severely impact the readiness of the stadiums for the upcoming mega-event being hosted in Pakistan.

Moreover, hosting matches without fans also a challenge for the board, at it is not feasible option.

Faced with these issues, the PCB is exploring alternative venues.

The UAE is the preferred option, but series schedule is clashing with the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, which is set to take place in Dubai and Sharjah from October 3 to 20.

This leaves only Abu Dhabi as a potential venue in the UAE. As a result, PCB officials are also considering Sri Lanka as a possible host.

The final decision will be made after discussions with the England Cricket Board (ECB) in the coming days.