Pakistan Considers Offshore Venue

Ongoing renovation work at key stadiums in Pakistan has prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to explore the option of moving one Test of the upcoming series against England to an offshore location. Abu Dhabi, which served as Pakistan’s home ground during their decade-long exile from international cricket, has emerged as a possible alternative if necessary.

Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and the National Stadium in Karachi are currently undergoing extensive upgrades, while Rawalpindi Stadium, which hosted the recent Bangladesh Tests, is also under renovation. All three venues are preparing to be ready in time for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the first major ICC event Pakistan will host since 1996.

Lahore is not expected to host any matches before the Champions Trophy, and Karachi, initially slated to host a Test in both the Bangladesh and England series, will not see any action until January next year when Pakistan takes on the West Indies. This leaves Multan and Rawalpindi as the only two venues capable of hosting the upcoming Tests. Although both grounds are likely to host all three matches, concerns have arisen that hosting two Tests in Rawalpindi could delay ongoing renovations and impact preparations for the Champions Trophy.

While Faisalabad's Iqbal Cricket Stadium is set to host the Champions Cup in September, its last Test match was held in 2006, and it is not being considered as a venue for this series.

Further complicating matters is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which Pakistan will host in Islamabad on October 15-16. The arrival of several international leaders for the event will strain local security and accommodation, making Rawalpindi unavailable for the second Test, scheduled from October 15-19.

If the entire series remains in Pakistan, Rawalpindi could host the first and third Tests, while Multan would be the venue for the second. Another possibility is having Multan stage two consecutive matches, either the first two or the last two Tests.

As a result, the PCB is weighing its options, with Abu Dhabi being a strong contender. However, Dubai and Sharjah are unavailable due to the T20 Women’s World Cup, which was moved from Bangladesh to the UAE. Additionally, Abu Dhabi is hosting a white-ball series between Ireland and South Africa, which ends on October 7, limiting its availability for the first Test, set to begin shortly after.

The urgency to finalise the venues is growing, as England supporters are expected to travel in large numbers for the series, and logistical arrangements cannot be completed until the venues are confirmed. England head coach Brendon McCullum has also stressed the need for clarity, noting that the team’s selection depends on knowing the conditions in advance.

McCullum remarked during a press conference ahead of the third Test against Sri Lanka, "We’re not sure where the games will be played yet. We can’t select the squad until we know, so hopefully we’ll find out in the coming days. Once we do, we can plan for the right team in the right conditions."

The stadium renovations coincide with Pakistan’s busiest home season in decades, which includes seven Test matches, four white-ball internationals, the Champions Trophy, and an expanded domestic calendar. These upgrades, long overdue at several venues, have become essential as the country gears up to host major international cricket events next year.