'Angry' Kamran Akmal calls Pakistan cricket a joke as PAK vs BAN Karachi Test set to be played without crowd

Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal lashed out at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for hosting the second Test against Bangladesh without crowd. He said that playing the game without fans would make Pakistan cricket look like a joke.

The Test series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is all set to take place from 21st August. Rawalpindi will be hosting the first game while the second game is scheduled to take place from 30th August in Karachi. The two games will also be part of the ICC World Test Championship.

Pakistan Cricket Board recently made an announcement that the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played behind the doors. No fans will be allowed in the stadium as the governing body is making the stadium ready for the Champions Trophy.

The PCB made this decision in light of the ongoing construction going on at Karachi's National Stadium. This is because they want the stadium to be fully ready for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament will be played in Pakistan in February-March next year.

While talking about the second Test being played behind the doors, Kamran Akmal stated that it would be a joke that the Test match would be played without the crowd. He stressed that they could’ve staged the match in Faisalabad or Multan. Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, he explained:

“The second Test match will be played in Karachi. So I think you know that there is a renovation going on in Karachi. They are preparing a stadium for the Champions Trophy. So it will be a joke of Pakistan that Test matches are being played in Pakistan without a crowd. And we don't just have 2-3 stadiums, we also have Faisalabad Stadium. We could have played there too, it is a top-class stadium. So much cricket has happened there.

“After that, there is a stadium in Multan. And you know that Multan stadium is very good. And the crowd also comes there. So you know that this is your stadium, you could have put another Test match on one of these two venues. So it would have been good. So I think it will be an international joke of our cricket. These things should not happen. So let's see why this venue has been decided," Kamran Akmal said.

Pakistan will become a joke internationally - Kamran Akmal

Kamran Akmal's future highlighted that cricket in Pakistan is already going down and with PCB taking such decisions, it will turn them into a joke. He urged the chairman to take strict action, keeping in mind that Test cricket is already going down. He expressed:

“We already know that this stadium will be broken. A new one will be made. So why didn't they put all these things in front and make a decision? You will see how much our cricket brand has gone down internationally," Kamran Akmal said.

"It is discussed so lightly and as a joke. If you make such a decision, then the cricket of Pakistan will become a joke internationally. We have to get away from these things. And that will happen only when there is professional work. Keeping everything in front. I feel that when the venue Karachi was selected as venue with closed eyes at that time.

“Whoever decided this. I think the chairman should ask. Those who have kept this venue. Okay, there is a ground. But if there is no crowd, what will be the interest? Test cricket has gone so far. No one likes to see it in Pakistan. So let's see what happens in the coming time,” Kamran Akmal concluded.