Pakistan-England Test Series Likely To Be Shifted To UAE Or Sri Lanka - Reports

Cowsher

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posted on 2 months ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Pakistan will face England in a three-match Test series next month. As per the original schedule, the series opener is set to take place in Multan from October 7 onwards.

After suffering a shocking defeat in the two-match Test series at home against Bangladesh earlier this week, Pakistan will face England in a three-match Test series next month. But according to reports, the high-profile series could move out of Pakistan and take place either in the United Arab Emirates or Sri Lanka.

According to the original schedule, the series will start in Multan on October 7, and the next two red-ball matches are scheduled to take place in Karachi (October 15-19) and Rawalpindi (October 24-28). But due to ongoing renovation work at Karachi and Rawalpindi stadiums, there is a high possibility that the matches will not take place there.

Pakistan Cricket Board is upgrading facilities at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the National Stadium in Karachi, and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.

As per a report in Cricket Pakistan on Thursday (September 5), if the construction is paused in Karachi and Rawalpindi to accommodate the series, then it will severely impact the readiness of the stadiums for the first major ICC event in Pakistan since the 1996 ODI World Cup. Additionally, the expected arrival of England’s Barmy Army fan group poses another logistical concern, as hosting matches without a crowd is not a feasible option.

Pakistan hosted the two-match Test series against Bangladesh entirely in Rawalpindi. Originally the second Test was scheduled to take place in Karachi, but it was moved to Rawalpindi due to construction work at the National Stadium.

Dubai not an option

The United Arab Emirates is a preferred option for Pakistan to host the Test series, but due to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 taking place in the country from October 3 to 20, the first two red-ball matches can’t take place in Dubai and Sharjah, and this leaves only Abu Dhabi as a potential venue for series. 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.