England’s Test tour to Pakistan next month will include back-to-back matches in Multan and a series final in Rawalpindi, with the PCB finally giving its go-ahead to its revised schedule after long delays.
The first tour of the Test-Test series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship, included the second Test in Karachi – the venue where England achieved a historic 3-0 sweep on the last tour of the country in December. 2022.
However, the National Stadium in Karachi is currently undergoing major renovation work to prepare it for the ICC Champions Trophy in February 2025, and since Rawalpindi is unavailable for the second test due to a major international conference in neighboring Islamabad from October 15-16, the series. at one point it looked like it would be moved to the UAE, with Abu Dhabi suggested as a possible location.
Now, however, an agreement has been reached that the series will start and end in Multan and Rawalpindi as originally planned, but the teams will stay in Multan for the second Test as well.
England are expected to arrive in Multan on October 2, with the Pakistan team meeting in the city on the same day. The first Test will run from October 7-11, with the second following four days later, from October 15-19. The teams will then move to Rawalpindi for the third Test from October 24-28.
“The PCB is delighted to welcome the England men’s cricket team back to Pakistan,” said Usman Wahla, PCB Director, International. “Despite the minor changes, we are committed to supporting the fans and ensuring a memorable tour. We look forward to a highly competitive Test series and showcasing Pakistan’s renowned hospitality.”
The announcement ends weeks of uncertainty about the series, with England last week naming an unusually large 17-man squad. Speaking before the recent third Test against Sri Lanka, England coach Brendon McCullum revealed that his team must know the pitches in advance to be able to choose a team that matches the conditions.
The delay has been particularly frustrating for England fans, as a number of tour operators have canceled their plans due to a lack of transport arrangements.
A revised itinerary
7-11 October First Test, Multan
15-19 October Second Test, Multan
24-28 October Third Test, Rawalpindi
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