Pakistan have announced a late switch to the venues of their upcoming Test series against England, less than three weeks before the start of the first game.
England are scheduled to visit Pakistan for three Test matches in October. According to the original schedule, the three games were scheduled to be played in Multan (October 7-11), Karachi (October 15-19), and Rawalpindi (October 24-28).
However, suggestions and speculations were rife that a change in venues is possible given the renovation work that has been going on at the National Stadium in Karachi. Finally, on Friday (September 20), 17 days ahead of the start of the first Test, the PCB have confirmed a change in venues.
The second Test has been shifted from Karachi to Multan, with the first two Tests now set to be played at the same venue. No other change has been made to the fixtures, with the dates for the three Tests remaining the same as well.
Not the first change of venues this season in Pakistan
Earlier, when Bangladesh toured Pakistan for a two-Test series, the second Test of that series saw a venue change as well. Originally scheduled in Karachi, the match was shifted to Rawalpindi, the venue for the first Test, resulting in both matches being played at the same place.
There had also been reports of the England series potentially getting shifted out of Pakistan, perhaps into the UAE. That, however, hasn't happened.
PCB's official statement mentioned that the National Stadium in Karachi has been undergoing renovation work to get ready for hosting the 2025 Champions Trophy, which is what has necessitated the change.
"The match has been shifted from Karachi to Multan as the National Bank Stadium is undergoing major facelift for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will also be played at the Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Rawalpindi’s Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium," read PCB's statement.
"The England men’s cricket team will arrive in Multan on 2 October, while the Pakistan men’s cricket team will also assemble in Multan on 2 October."
PAK vs ENG: Revised Test schedule
7-11 Oct – First Test, Multan
15-19 Oct – Second Test, Multan
24-28 Oct – Third Test, Rawalpindi
Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
