Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering moving the ODI’s and one T20I match to Lahore from Rawalpindi, considering the changing political situation in the capital, reports Geo News. The first ODI is scheduled to be played on March 29.
The “changing political scenario and chance of a conflict-like situation” is causing PCB to make alternative plans for the series.
However, PCB has yet to make a decision and has yet to cancel the hotel reservation in Islamabad, where both teams must check-in on March 26, when they come back from the Lahore test match, scheduled to take place this week.
“All the four white-ball matches will be shifted to Gaddafi Stadium where teams are set to play the final Test of the series starting from March 21 in case the political situation in Islamabad stays the same till March 20,” a PCB official said.
“If there is a marked change in the volatile political situation in Islamabad, we would stay with our original schedule and that is to organise all white-ball matches (from March 29-April 5) including three One-Dayers and one-off T20 at the Pindi Stadium. Otherwise, these matches will be shifted to Lahore.”
“We cannot take even one percent risk when it comes to the safety and security of both teams. Though the room booking at a leading hotel in Islamabad is intact, there is a growing possibility that the matches will now be held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on the same dates. The hotel where teams stayed for the first Test and would be staying for limited-overs matches falls within the red-zone where political parties are planning all these activities. So, no change in the political situation in Islamabad by March 20 means all the four limited-overs matches will be shifted to Lahore.”
If the schedule is not changed the matches will be played in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
