LAHORE: Karachi’s National Bank Stadium is set to miss out on hosting its second consecutive scheduled Test after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a revised schedule for the national side’s upcoming three-match series against England on Friday.

The venue was announced as the host Pakistan’s second Test against England series in the original schedule of the series, but that it is undergoing renovation in order to prepare it for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy, became the reason behind it not being considered for next month’s series.

It was also ruled out as host for the second Test of the recently concluded series between Pakistan and Bangladesh owing to the same reason. While Rawalpindi hosted both the Bangladesh matches, the Multan Cricket Stadium has been finalised as the venue for the first two Pakistan-England Tests (from Oct. 7-11 and 15-19). The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, meanwhile, will host the final fixture of the series from Oct. 24-28.

The announcement ended weeks of frustrating wait by the England and Wales Cricket Board who were seeking clarity on the schedule.

There were media reports of shifting the series to the United Arab Emirates where Pakistan was forced to play its home matches from 2010 to 2019.

Earlier, Rawalpindi was being considered as the venue for the second Test, but was ruled out due to its dates clashing with the high-profile Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meet in Islamabad.

Multan was the only other option available to the PCB as a Test venue with the Gaddafi Stadium here also undergoing renovation for the Champions Trophy.

The England squad will arrive in Multan on Oct. 2, the PCB said in a press release. The Pakistan players will also assemble in the city on the same day, it added.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2024