Sun Sep 15 01:42:40 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan Confirms England Test Series Will Go Ahead at Home Despite Venue Uncertainty
**LAHORE, PAKISTAN -** Amidst growing speculation about a potential relocation, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has firmly stated that the upcoming Test series against England will be played in Pakistan as scheduled. However, the series faces mounting challenges due to ongoing construction work at the proposed venues and a lack of concrete plans from the international cricket department.
The series, consisting of three Tests starting October 7th, was initially planned to be held in Multan, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. However, renovations at these stadiums ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy have cast doubt on their availability.
“The Chairman has made it clear that relocating the series would damage the image of the PCB, and Rawalpindi and Multan should be used as the venues for the three-match series,” a PCB insider revealed.
Despite Naqvi’s insistence, the international cricket department has yet to finalize the itinerary, causing anxiety among the English Cricket Board and fans. The lack of a confirmed schedule is also negatively impacting the PCB’s revenue generation, with broadcasters struggling to sell broadcasting rights for the series abroad.
“The broadcasters have been struggling to sell the telecast rights of the series abroad. Even the broadcasters who have bought the rights to sell the series internationally are worried as they are yet to find a buyer to show the matches in the UK,” said the insider.
The delay in the announcement is further exacerbated by recent issues within the PCB. The National Under-19 Championship was abruptly halted after just one day due to irregularities in team selection and budget allocation.
With less than a month before the first Test, the PCB faces mounting pressure to finalize the itinerary and ensure the successful hosting of this crucial series.
First Piper 