Why shifting the upcoming home Test series vs England to UAE shouldn’t be an option for Pakistan

For over a decade, international cricket teams avoided touring Pakistan due to security concerns following the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

It took significant effort from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the country’s security agencies to rebuild trust among foreign teams to visit Pakistan again.

In 2015, Zimbabwe was invited for a limited-overs series, marking the beginning of efforts to restore international cricket in Pakistan. In 2017, the final of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season two was held in Lahore, followed by a visit from a World XI in 2017, all aimed at reassuring the global cricket community of Pakistan's safety.

Hashim Amla steered the World XI chase with an unbeaten half-century in second T20I against Pakistan.AFP

Ironically, Sri Lanka was the first team to return for a Test series in 2019. Since then, top teams like New Zealand, England, and Australia, except for India due to political tensions, have all toured Pakistan for Tests.

During the period when teams avoided Pakistan, the country hosted its "home" international series in the UAE, with matches held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.

Just when it seemed that hosting games in neutral venues was behind them, PCB's lack of proper planning may force a return to the UAE.

Uncertainty looms

Currently, the PCB faces a dilemma as it scrambles to make last-minute adjustments to the schedule for the home Test series against England in October, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.

The series is set to begin with the first Test in Multan from October 7 to 11, followed by matches in Karachi and Rawalpindi. However, due to ongoing work at Pakistan's stadiums, the PCB is considering moving one Test to a neutral venue, according to local media reports.

Stadiums in Lahore and Karachi are undergoing major renovations, with work also being done at Rawalpindi in preparation for hosting the Champions Trophy in February next year.

England's Joe Root brings out the reverse-sweep during their first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2015.AFP

Karachi is now almost certain not to host the second England Test. Abu Dhabi, which was a regular host for Pakistan’s "home" games during their exile, is being considered as an alternative venue if needed.

England demands clarity

These developments have caused issues for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and their coaching staff, who are seeking clarity about the upcoming series.

England head coach Brendon McCullum expressed his concerns, stating that the team cannot make plans until they know where they will be playing.

“We don’t really know what’s happening in Pakistan but we can’t select a team until we know where we are going to play. It would be nice if, over the next couple of days, we found out," McCullum said.

"Then we'll sit down and make sure we've got the right team for the right conditions and the right opposition," he added.

England's Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes and Jeetan Patel at a training session.AFP

The Barmy Army, a dedicated group of England cricket supporters, also expressed frustration over the uncertainty. Managing Director Chris Millard said that they had been preparing for the tour by visiting Pakistan's cities, but the lack of clarity about the venue is leaving fans and the team in the dark.

No going back

Although, Pakistan are struggling to take advantage of the home conditions, and some of their best Test performances recently have come in UAE, moving back there shouldn’t even be considered an option.

Moving the series to a neutral venue would be a major embarrassment for the PCB, which has worked hard to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.

The prospects of India travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy remains uncertain due to political tensions. If the England series is moved to a neutral venue, it could fuel further arguments from India to relocate the Champions Trophy, the first global event in Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup.

The PCB's lack of clear communication hasn’t helped matters. For instance, the second Test against Bangladesh, originally scheduled for Karachi, was first announced to be played without fans due to the ongoing construction work at the venue, only to be moved to Rawalpindi later.

The stadium upgrades are happening during Pakistan’s busiest home season in decades. Given Pakistan's packed schedule, the PCB should have planned more effectively and accounted for contingencies before starting the upgrades at key venues.

Way forward

The major challenge is relocating the second Test against England from Karachi to another venue within the country. Rawalpindi, already hosting the third Test of the series, presents logistical difficulties.

Upgradation work continues at National Bank Stadium, Karachi.Nukta

The primary issue with Rawalpindi is the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, scheduled from October 15-16, which will bring heads of state to Islamabad. The security demands for the event make Rawalpindi unsuitable for hosting the second Test, set to take place from October 15 to 19.

For the series to remain in Pakistan, Multan could potentially host the first two Tests, with Rawalpindi taking the final match as planned. Hosting both Tests in Rawalpindi would be logistically problematic, due to the high-profile conference. Also, it could slow down the renovation work at Pindi Stadium for the Champions Trophy.

Faisalabad's Iqbal Cricket Stadium, which will host the Champions Cup in September, is another option, though it has not hosted a Test match since 2006.

Given the influx of England fans and the need for timely logistical arrangements, the PCB must urgently confirm the venues. In order to avoid further complications, they should prioritize selecting an alternate location within Pakistan rather than moving the series offshore.