Pak-Eng series likely at neutral venue

KARACHI:

The upcoming Pakistan-England cricket series faces uncertainty as incomplete preparation of cricket stadiums has increased the likelihood of relocating the matches to the UAE or Sri Lanka.

The series which is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 is scheduled to kick off with the first Test from October 7 to 11 in Multan, followed by the second Test from October 15 to 19 in Karachi, and the third from October 24 to 28 in Rawalpindi.

Construction work in Rawalpindi, akin to ongoing projects in Lahore and Karachi, poses significant challenges for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as it prepares for the highly anticipated 2025 Champions Trophy.

If the construction is paused to accommodate the series, it will severely impact the readiness of the stadiums for the upcoming mega-event being hosted in Pakistan. Additionally, the expected arrival of England's Barmy Army fan group poses another logistical concern, as hosting matches without a crowd is not a feasible option.

Faced with these issues, the PCB is exploring alternative venues. The UAE is the preferred option, but scheduling conflicts arise due to the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, which is set to take place in Dubai and Sharjah from October 3 to 20, overlapping with the Pakistan-England series.

This leaves only Abu Dhabi as a potential venue in the UAE. As a result, PCB officials are also considering Sri Lanka as a possible host. The final decision will be made after discussions with the England Cricket Board (ECB) in the coming days.

Officials for Champions Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the match officials for the highly anticipated Champions One-Day Cup, scheduled to begin on 12 September.

Esteemed former ICC elite panelist Aleem Dar and Asif Yaqoob of the ICC's international panel will umpire the opening clash between Wolves and Panthers.

Former Test cricketer Ali Naqvi will head the Playing Control Team for the tournament, which will also feature Waleed Yaqub as the third umpire and Zulfiqar Jan as the fourth. The umpiring panel for the tournament includes a total of nine officials, with Faisal Aafreedi, Imtiaz Iqbal, Imran Jawed, Nasir Hussain, and Rashid Riaz also appointed to officiate throughout the tournament.

The Champions One-Day Cup, featuring the country's top players and seasoned mentors like Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, and Waqar Younis, will take place at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.

Match referee duties will be shared by Bilal Khilji, Iftikhar Ahmed, Iqbal Sheikh, Nadeem Arshad, and Kamran Chaudhry. Details for the match official appointments for the playoffs and final will be revealed later.

12 Sep – Wolves v Panthers. Aleem Dar and Asif Yaqoob (on-field umpires); Waleed Yaqub (third umpire), Zulfiqar Jan (fourth umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee)

13 Sep – Stallions v Lions. Aleem Dar and Waleed Yaqub (on-field umpires); Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Zulfiqar Jan (fourth umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee)

14 Sep – Dolphins v Panthers. Asif Yaqoob and Zulfiqar Jan (on-field umpires); Aleem Dar (third umpire), Waleed Yaqub (fourth umpire); Bilal Khilji (match referee)

15 Sep – Wolves v Stallions. Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires); Waleed Yaqub (third umpire), Zulfiqar Jan (fourth umpire); Bilal Kjilji (match referee)

16 Sep – Lions v Panthers. Waleed Yaqub and Zulfiqar Jan (on-field umpires); Rashid Riaz (third umpire), Imran Jawed (fourth umpire); Iqbal Sheikh (match referee)

17 Sep – Dolphins v Wolves. Nasir Hussain and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires); Imran Jawed (third umpire), Waleed Yaqub (fourth umpire); Iqbal Sheikh (match referee)

19 Sep – Stallions v Dolphins. Imran Jawed and Imtiaz Iqbal (on-field umpire); Nasir Hussain (third umpire), Waleed Yaqub (fourth umpire); Iftikhar Ahmed (match referee)

20 Sep – Lions v Wolves. Imran Jawed and Nasir Hussain (on-field umpires); Rashid Riaz (TV umpire), Imtiaz Iqbal (fourth umpire); Iftikhar Ahmed (match referee)

21 Sep – Panthers v Stallions. Imran Jawed and Nasir Hussain (on-field umpires: Faisal Aafreedi (third umpire), Imtiaz Iqbal (fourth umpire); Nadeem Arshad (match referee)

22 Sep – Dolphins v Lions. Faisal Aafreedi and Imtiaz Iqbal (on-field umpires); Nasir Hussain (third umpire), Imran Jawed (fourth umpire); Kamran Chaudhry (match referee).