The second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, scheduled to take place in Karachi from August 30 to September 3, will be held without spectators due to ongoing construction work at the National Stadium.
This development is part of a larger renovation effort by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to upgrade its venues in preparation for the 2025 Champions Trophy, set to be held in February-March. In addition to Karachi, Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium is also undergoing upgrades, which will keep it out of use as a venue until February 2025, ahead of Pakistan's first ICC tournament since the 1996 World Cup, co-hosted with India and Sri Lanka.
The PCB decided to keep the Test in Karachi because they wanted to distribute their seven home Tests, ODIs, and domestic cricket across the three venues of Karachi, Multan, and Rawalpindi. Multan, the only other option, is already scheduled to host Pakistan's first Test against England starting October 7. With various expenses already incurred for hotels, flights, and security, relocating to another venue at short notice would have resulted in financial losses for a series that is not expected to be highly profitable.
There are no changes to the plans for the England Test in Karachi, set for October 15, where spectators are expected to attend. However, the PCB has called the decision to hold the Karachi Test without fans a "difficult decision" and has immediately suspended ticket sales for the match, which were being advertised just two days prior.
In a statement, the PCB emphasised that "the health and safety of our fans is our utmost priority" and that after evaluating all options, it was determined that the safest choice was to play the second Test in an empty stadium. The board expressed regret for any inconvenience caused and reassured fans that the ongoing upgrades aim to improve their future experiences.
The Bangladesh squad arrived in Lahore four days earlier than planned to begin training, after their preparations were disrupted by political unrest in their home country. The team will train at Gaddafi Stadium for three days before heading to Rawalpindi for the first Test, which starts on August 21.
This early arrival was made possible by an invitation from the PCB, which offered the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) the opportunity to ensure their players had "adequate and fair training opportunities" before the Test series.
Bangladesh's last bilateral tour of Pakistan was in 2020, but it was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic.