England seek clarity over fears Pakistan tour may be moved
England head coach Brendon McCullum has admitted his team are in the dark as speculation swirls over whether their Test tour of Pakistan in October could be moved to another country.
England are due to play three Tests in Multan, Karachi and Rawalpindi from October 7, but it seems increasingly likely that some or all of the tour could be moved to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates due to the redevelopment of stadia in Pakistan.
It is understood that the Karachi Test is certain to be moved, whether to Abu Dhabi or another Pakistani venue, most likely Multan.
Upgrades are taking place to the stadium in Karachi with an eye on the 2025 Champions Trophy, which is due to take place in the country. Questions surround India’s participation if the eight-team tournament takes place in Pakistan because of political tension, but it would be the first global event in the country since the 1996 World Cup. Stadiums in Rawalpindi and Lahore are also being upgraded for the tournament.
Moving countries would not be simple, and would represent a major embarrassment for the Pakistan Cricket Board, who have worked hard to lure tourists back to the country after years in exile. The women’s T20 World Cup has already been moved from Bangladesh to the UAE, which would leave Abu Dhabi as the only possible venue in the Emirates for Pakistan to host England. Sri Lanka and South Africa have even been mooted as more left-field options.
McCullum said England were aware of the talk of change, but had heard nothing firm on the matter. It is understood the PCB expect to make a decision in the next couple of days.
“We don’t really know,” said McCullum. “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.”
‘Uncertainty affecting everyone involved’
The Barmy Army, the intrepid England supporters group, issued a statement saying they are “frustrated” by the developments.
“With just over a month to go until the start of the Test series between England and Pakistan, we, like everyone else, remain in the dark about whether or not it will actually be played in Pakistan,” said managing director Chris Millard.
“Recent reports have suggested the series might have to be moved to another country due to construction work at certain stadiums. There is talk about the UAE and Sri Lanka as potential alternatives, but given the lack of clarification, that remains unclear.
“Since the schedule was announced, the Barmy Army has been working hard to give England fans the opportunity to travel to Multan, Karachi and Rawalpindi - all of which have already been visited by members of our team in preparation for this tour.
“The uncertainty around the schedule and host cities is affecting everyone involved, from us, the fans, to the England team. For us, the uncertainty is incredibly frustrating and fans are being left in the dark.”
