Karachi, August 12, 2024: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Monday that the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh, scheduled from August 30 to September 3 at the National Stadium in Karachi, will be held without spectators. The decision comes due to ongoing construction work at the venue as part of a broader renovation plan aimed at upgrading cricket facilities in preparation for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which will be hosted in Pakistan.
The National Stadium’s construction is part of a comprehensive renovation effort by the PCB to enhance cricket venues across the country. Similarly, Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is undergoing significant upgrades and will be unavailable as a venue until February 2025. This redevelopment comes ahead of Pakistan’s first ICC tournament since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
The PCB faced a dilemma regarding the venue for the Karachi Test but decided to keep the match as scheduled. Moving the fixture to an alternative venue, such as Multan—which is set to host Pakistan’s first Test against England starting October 7—was deemed impractical due to financial commitments related to accommodations, flights, and security already arranged. Additionally, this Test series is not expected to generate substantial revenue, making the decision to proceed in Karachi even more crucial.
In light of the construction, the PCB has halted ticket sales for the second Test against Bangladesh. The board had recently begun selling tickets for the match before the suspension was announced. “The health and safety of our fans is our utmost priority,” the PCB stated. “After careful consideration, we have decided that the safest course of action is to hold the second Test in an empty stadium. We deeply regret any inconvenience this may cause and want to assure our valued fans that these upgrades are intended to enhance their future experience.”
In related news, the Bangladesh squad has arrived in Lahore four days earlier than originally planned to commence training at Gaddafi Stadium. This early arrival was facilitated by an invitation from the PCB to ensure that the Bangladesh players have “adequate and fair training opportunities” ahead of the series. The team’s preparations were previously disrupted by political unrest in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s last bilateral tour of Pakistan was in 2020 but was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The PCB has also confirmed that the England Test scheduled to take place in Karachi from October 15 will proceed with spectators in attendance as planned.
