LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) believes there is room for the national side’s upcoming three-match Test series to be held within the country despite the presence of certain obstacles, Dawn learnt on Thursday.

The matches are scheduled to be held in Multan (Oct. 7-11), Karachi (Oct. 15-19) and Rawalpindi (Oct. 24-28). But with Karachi set to be ruled out as one of the host venues — pertaining to the ongoing construction work to prepare the metropolis’ National Bank Stadium for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy — a tweak in the series itinerary is imminent.

The PCB, Dawn understands, mulled over shifting the Karachi fixture to Rawalpindi, but the idea was discarded when the board learnt the high-profile Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting would be held during the same time in Islamabad.

Therefore, the reorganised schedule may see the PCB may shift the first Test from Multan to Rawalpindi and before returning to the former city for the second match and hold the final match in Rawalpindi, giving the garrison city the opportunity to host two games.

The sport’s national governing body also discussed the option to hold the first two Tests in Multan before organising the final fixture in Rawalpindi — the plan likely to be finalised given it will save the board money accounting to travel arrangements.

A PCB source revealed to Dawn that the United Arab Emirates was also mulled over as a potential venue, while Faisalabad was also considered.

“The option to hold one Test in Abu Dhabi also came up in the discussions, but it was decided that there was room to hold all three matches in Pakistan only,” it said. “Even cost-wise, the better option is to hold it at home.

“Faisalabad also came under consideration but hol­ding any match there is not possible since the Eng­land and Wales Cricket Board hasn’t inspected the venue in terms of security.”

ENGLAND SEEK CLARITY

England, meanwhile, are seeking clarity over the fate of the series.

England coach Brendon McCullum addressed the issue on Thursday while speaking to reporters at The Oval ahead of the third Test against Sri Lanka.

“We don’t really know [what is happening in Pakistan] but we can’t pick a team until we know where we’re going to play,” he said.

“It would be nice if, over the next couple of days, we found out.”

The former New Zealand captain added: “Then we’ll sit down and make sure we’ve got the right team for the right conditions and the right opposition.”

However, Dawn understands that the PCB will officially provide clarity over the series schedule by Monday.

England did not tour Pakistan between 2005 and 2022, owing to security concerns, with the PCB staging matches in the UAE throughout that period.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2024