PCB Confirms Multan and Rawalpindi as venues for England Test series

Updated At: 2024/09/10

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has indicated that the entire three-Test series against England in October will be held in Pakistan. During a media interaction after inspecting development work at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Naqvi confirmed that Multan and Rawalpindi would host all three Tests of the series.

Mohammad Rafiullah, a spokesperson for Naqvi, later confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has given its approval for the venues and is satisfied with the arrangements in Multan and Rawalpindi.

Pakistan's hosting preparations were complicated by ongoing construction at several cricket stadiums. Karachi, originally set to host the second Test, will no longer be an option due to renovations at the National Stadium. Additionally, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit scheduled for October 15-16 in Islamabad has ruled out hosting the second Test in Rawalpindi due to security and accommodation constraints.

Initially, the PCB had considered moving one of the Tests to Abu Dhabi, as Pakistan last played their "home" Tests in the UAE before returning to domestic venues in 2018. However, Naqvi's comments suggest that all three Tests will remain in Pakistan, though the PCB has yet to officially announce the venues.

The delay in finalizing the venues has caused concern, especially with a significant number of England fans expected to travel for the series. England head coach Brendon McCullum emphasized the importance of knowing the venues in advance, as it affects squad selection based on the conditions.

England is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on October 2, with the first Test set to begin on October 7. The PCB is under pressure to finalize the venue details as soon as possible to allow for logistical preparations.

Moeen Ali announces retirement from International cricket

Moeen Ali, England's versatile all-rounder, has announced his retirement from international cricket, stating that "the time is right" to step aside. Having represented England across all three formats since his debut in 2014, the 37-year-old leaves behind a stellar career.

Moeen was a key figure in England’s victorious white-ball squads, contributing to their 2019 50-over World Cup triumph and their 2022 T20 World Cup win. After initially retiring from Test cricket in 2021, he made a brief return for the 2023 Ashes series at home, which ended in a 2-2 draw against Australia.

In his career, the off-spinner played 68 Tests, 138 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and 92 T20 Internationals. Moeen, who served as vice-captain in England's white-ball teams, also captained the side in one ODI and 12 T20 matches. However, he was not selected for England’s upcoming white-ball series against Australia.

Speaking to Nasser Hussain in an interview with The Daily Mail, Moeen reflected on his decision: "It’s time for the next generation in English cricket. I could try to make a comeback, but I know realistically it won’t happen. It’s not because I’m not good enough—I still feel I can play—but I understand the team needs to evolve."

A left-handed batter known for his elegance, Moeen scored five Test centuries and three in ODIs. He also took 204 wickets in Tests, 111 in ODIs, and 51 in T20s. His final international match was England's T20 World Cup semi-final loss to India in June 2023.

In an interview with Test Match Special, Moeen expressed his love for Test cricket: "It was by far the best format. As a young player, it felt like the most important, the proper form of the game. White-ball cricket was more fun, almost like a time to relax after the rigors of red-ball cricket."

PCB Confirms Multan and Rawalpindi as venues for England Test series

Moeen Ali announces retirement from International cricket

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