Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering hosting Pakistan’s Test series against England in UAE or Sri Lanka due to ongoing construction work at various stadiums in the country. The team recently faced a whitewash against Bangladesh, leading to a significant drop in the ICC Test rankings.
Having recently appointed Jason Gillespie as the Test head coach, PCB is looking for alternatives to host the upcoming series against England. The construction work at Karachi National Stadium, Gaddafi Stadium, and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for next year’s Champions Trophy has left the board with limited options for hosting the matches.
The three-match Test series against England is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, with matches scheduled to begin in Multan on October 7, Karachi on October 15, and Rawalpindi on October 24. If the series is moved to the UAE, Abu Dhabi will be the most viable option given the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup set to take place in Dubai and Sharjah.
After facing a significant setback in rankings, Pakistan will be eager to bounce back and put on a strong performance in the upcoming series. The team currently sits at eighth position in the ICC Test rankings, the lowest since 1965, excluding a period where they were not ranked due to insufficient matches. The upcoming series against England will provide them with an opportunity to redeem themselves and climb back up the rankings.
