Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi dismissed reports about venue unavailability for the upcoming home Test series against England, confirming that the series will take place in Pakistan.
Reports circulated on social media earlier this week about a potential shift of the three-match Test series to Sri Lanka or the UAE due to ongoing stadium renovations for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
However, Mohsin Naqvi dismissed these rumors and confirmed that the Tests will be held in Pakistan stating, “No Tests will be played outside [the country]. Multan and Rawalpindi venues are final.”
In Pakistan’s recently concluded two-match Test series sweep against Bangladesh, the PCB had to move the second Test from Karachi to Rawalpindi due to ongoing renovations. Spectators had already been barred from attending the Karachi Test because of the construction work.
Experts advised the PCB that the construction could continue during match hours, which could distract players with noise and dust.
England’s all-format head coach, Brendon McCullum, discussed the situation during a press conference at The Oval. He remarked, “We don’t know, but we can’t pick a team until we know where we’re going to play. It would be nice if, over the next couple of days, we found out. Then we’ll sit down and make sure we’ve got the right team for the right conditions and the right opposition.”
Pakistan will host England for a three-match Test series as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. The series starts on October 7 in Multan, followed by Tests in Karachi on October 15 and Rawalpindi on October 24.
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