September 6, 2024

PCB May Move One Test Against England Abroad Due to Stadium Renovations

Due to ongoing construction at stadiums in Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering moving one Test match of the series against England to another location. Abu Dhabi, which served as a home venue for Pakistan during their long exile, is being considered as a potential alternative.

The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and the National Stadium in Karachi are undergoing major renovations. The Rawalpindi Stadium, which hosted the recent Tests against Bangladesh, is also being upgraded. These improvements are being made to ensure the stadiums are ready for the Champions Trophy in February, which will be the first ICC event hosted by Pakistan since 1996.

Lahore will not host any cricket matches until the Champions Trophy, and Karachi, originally scheduled to host one Test each against Bangladesh and England, is not expected to have matches until the first Test against the West Indies in January next year.

This leaves Multan and Rawalpindi as the only venues available for Test matches. It is likely that these two grounds will host all three Tests, but there are concerns that holding two Tests in Rawalpindi could delay ongoing renovations, potentially affecting preparations for the Champions Trophy.

Challenges in Selecting Test Venues: Faisalabad and Rawalpindi Unavailable; Abu Dhabi Conflicted

Faisalabad’s Iqbal Cricket Stadium, which will host the Champions Cup from September 12 to 29, has become a more prominent venue but has not hosted a Test match since 2006. Therefore, it is unlikely to be used for the Test series.

Additionally, Pakistan is set to host a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Islamabad on October 15-16. The high-security and accommodation requirements for this event rule out Rawalpindi as a venue for the second Test, scheduled for October 15-19.

If the Test series is to be held entirely in Pakistan, Rawalpindi can host at most the first and third Tests, with the second Test likely taking place in Multan. It’s possible that Multan might host two Tests, either the first two or the last two, as it is the only viable venue for the second Test.

The PCB is considering other options, including Abu Dhabi. However, Dubai and Sharjah will be hosting the T20 Women’s World Cup during this time, and Abu Dhabi is already booked for an Ireland-South Africa series that ends on October 7, the same day the first Test is scheduled to start. This timing conflict makes it unlikely that Abu Dhabi can host the first Test.

Urgent Venue Decision Needed Amid Busy Season and Stadium Upgrades

The PCB needs to make a decision quickly as many England fans are expected to attend the series, and logistical arrangements cannot be finalized until the venues are confirmed. England head coach Brendon McCullum has also emphasized the importance of knowing the venues in advance for squad selection.

“We don’t really know [what the final venues],” McCullum said at the press conference on the eve of the third Test against Sri Lanka at the Oval. “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. And then we’ll sit down and make sure we’ve got the right team for the right conditions and the right opposition.”

The stadium upgrades are happening during one of Pakistan’s busiest home seasons in decades. This period includes seven Test matches, four white-ball internationals, the Champions Trophy, and an expanded domestic calendar, all packed into the schedule until well into next year. The upgrades, which have been needed for a while, could no longer be delayed as Pakistan gets ready to host the Champions Trophy next year.

Axar Patel Shines with Bat and Ball on First Day of Duleep Trophy

On the first day of the Duleep Trophy, Axar Patel showcased his all-round skills, scoring a crucial 86 runs to rescue India D from a tough position in Anantapur. He then took two wickets in two overs to keep his team in contention.

At the end of the day, India C is 91 for 4, trailing by 73 runs against India D, who were all out for 164. Axar Patel’s 86 was the highlight for India D, supported by Vyshak’s 3 for 19 and Kamboj’s 2 for 47.

Anantapur proved challenging for batters, as a wicket fell in the first over and India C, who chose to bowl, quickly reduced India D to 34 for 5. Despite some struggles from notable players like Shreyas Iyer and Devdutt Padikkal, Karnataka’s Vijaykumar Vyshak was exceptional, taking 3 wickets for just 19 runs in his 12-over spell.

In a challenging situation, Axar Patel came in to bat at No. 7 with India D struggling at just 11 overs into their innings. Known for his valuable lower-order contributions in Test cricket, Axar faced this tough scenario with determination. He scored a powerful 86 runs off 118 balls, hitting six fours and six sixes. His innings, including an 84-run partnership with Arshdeep Singh (13), helped India D reach a total of 164.

India C also had a rough start, with B Sai Sudharsan and Ruturaj Gaikwad being the seventh and eighth players to score in single figures. Harshit Rana dismissed both in his opening spell and finished with figures of 7-5-13-2. Axar then took two quick wickets in his bowling spell, including the key dismissal of Rajat Patidar, who was helping India C recover. By the end of the day, India C was at 91 for 4, trailing by 73 runs.