Mohsin Naqvi breaks silence on speculation of PAK vs ENG Test relocation outside Pakistan

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has cleared the air on the speculation of one of the Pakistan vs England Tests being moved out of the country.

Recently, reports emerged claiming that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering moving one Test of the three-match series between Pakistan and England offshore due to the ongoing work at the stadiums.

Pakistan are set to host England in October for three Tests. The first Test will be played from October 7 in Multan while the second Test is set to be hosted by Karachi from October 15. Also, the third and final Test will be played in Rawalpindi from October 24.

As the stadiums in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi are undergoing major overhauls, PCB reportedly thought about shifting one match to Abu Dhabi. Notably, Pakistan recently hosted Bangladesh for two Tests and both games were played in Rawalpindi due to construction work in Karachi.

Other than construction, security was also reported to be a major concern for the Pakistan Cricket Board as the Shanghai Corporation Organisation (SCO) meeting is scheduled in the country from October 15 to 16, and the security and accommodation demands that entail ruled out Rawalpindi as an option for the second Test.

No Tests will be played outside - Mohsin Naqvi

Amid all the rumors and speculations, Mohsin Naqvi broke his silence on the matter and stated that all the matches of the Test series between Pakistan and England will be played in the country. He also revealed that the PCB is in touch with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) regarding this matter.

"No Tests will be played outside. Multan and Rawalpindi venues are final. We are in contact with the England board and there are no issues," he said while speaking to media on Saturday, September 7.

Also, Mohsin Naqvi revealed that the construction work is going on pretty well at all the venues. Naqvi further claimed that a new stadium will be built in Islamabad, which will follow the model of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the international hotel chain will also be built near Gaddafi Stadium.

"The work is progressing rapidly in Karachi. A new stadium will be built in Islamabad on the model of the Dubai Stadium," he added.

"The construction of the hotel near Gaddafi Stadium will start after the Champions Trophy. An international hotel chain will be brought in, which will generate revenue for the board," he asserted.

Pakistan recently faced a 0-2 hammering at the hands of Bangladesh in the two-match Test series at home. Meanwhile, the Pakistan players are currently engaged in preparations for the Champions Cup and after that, the national team will play a Test series against England.

It is being reported that when Pakistan take the field against England in the Test series they will play under a new captain - Mohammad Rizwan - as Shan Masood is all set to be sacked from the role following his failure to register a win in his first 5 Test matches.