PCB's final decision on Pakistan-England series, 3 test matches will be played in these 2 cities
The situation regarding the Test series between Pakistan and England to be held next month has finally become clear. After the defeat of the Pakistani team in the Test series against Bangladesh, there were discussions that the Test series against England could be shifted to the UAE. The reason for this was said to be the construction work going on in the main stadium of Pakistan. Now the Pakistan Cricket Board has put an end to all such discussions and made it clear that the 3-match Test series will be played in their country only. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi made this announcement while talking to the media on Saturday. This Test series will start on October 7.
The Champions Trophy is to be held in Pakistan in February and March next year. For this big ICC tournament, the Pakistani board is renovating its two most important and big stadiums Lahore and Karachi, due to which no match is being played here at the moment. This is why Pakistan had to organize both matches of the series against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi itself. After such a situation, there was a discussion about whether all three matches against England could be held on the same ground. Will the entire series or one match have to be organized in the UAE?
Before the return of Test cricket in Pakistan, for many years this team played its home Test matches in the UAE, but now the Pakistani board wants to organize all the matches in its country at any cost. Therefore, the series against England will also be played in Pakistan. PCB boss Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement on Saturday, September 7 that this entire series will be held in Pakistan. He also revealed the venue of the series. All three matches will be played in Multan and Rawalpindi. However, it is not clear in which stadium the two Tests will be held. According to the old schedule, the first Test was to be played in Multan, the second in Karachi, and the third in Rawalpindi.
This Test series, part of the World Test Championship, will start from October 7. The second Test will be played from October 15 and the last match will start from October 24. This is the second time in the last 2 years that England will be touring Pakistan. Earlier in 2022, this team went to Pakistan after a long gap of 17 years and then the team led by Ben Stokes cleanly swept Pakistan 3-0. Then Babar Azam was the captain of the Pakistani team and this time Shan Masood is leading the team but there is a possibility of Pakistan facing the same fate in this series as well.