England seeks clarity on Pakistan Test series amid reports of venue change

'Don’t really know what’s happening in Pakistan,' head coach McCullum addressed uncertainty during press conference

England is seeking clarity about their upcoming Test tour of Pakistan due to reports suggesting that some matches might be moved to another country.

Concerns have arisen because of ongoing construction at the proposed venues for the series. Media reports indicate that the schedule for the three-Test series, starting on October 7, might be changed.

England is set to play the first Test in Multan, with subsequent matches planned for Karachi and Rawalpindi.

However, renovations in preparation for next year’s Champions Trophy are causing problems at the Karachi and Rawalpindi venues.

There are suggestions that one or more of the matches could be relocated to the United Arab Emirates or Sri Lanka. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is waiting for further information to make a decision.

England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, addressed the uncertainty during a press conference at The Oval before the third Test against Sri Lanka. 

“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 further added.

It is worth noting that England had not toured Pakistan between 2005 and 2022 due to security concerns, with the Pakistan Cricket Board hosting matches in the UAE during that time.