The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is struggling to host the England Test series due to the reconstruction of several stadiums for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB is reportedly even considering shifting at least one Test from Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates.

England will travel to Pakistan in October for a three-match Test series, which will be a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship. As per the latest official schedule, Multan will host the Test series opener from October 7, while Karachi and Rawalpindi will host the next two Tests from October 15 and October 24, respectively.

Pakistan stadiums have been preparing for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Currently, Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and the National Stadium in Karachi are undergoing major reconstruction for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. It will be Pakistan’s first ICC tournament since 1996. 

Karachi was also originally planned for the final Test of the recently concluded two-match Test series against Bangladesh. However, just before the first Test of the series, the final Test was shifted to Rawalpindi due to reconstruction work in the National Stadium. While the England Test match is also going to shift from Karachi, the stadium hasn’t any other hosting plan for this year. The next fixture for the National Stadium is the two-match Test series opener against West Indies, starting on January 16, 2025. 

Meanwhile, Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore hasn’t any planned fixtures before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

Multan and Rawalpindi are available to host the Test series against England. There is a chance that three Tests against England can be shared between these two venues. Rawalpindi just hosted back-to-back Test matches against Bangladesh. However, if Rawalpindi hosts two Tests against England, it will slow down the reconstruction work for the upcoming ICC tournament. 

On the other hand, Faisalabad's Iqbal Cricket Stadium will be busy for the Champions Cup between September 12 and 29. While it hasn’t hosted a Test match since 2006, it is also unlikely to be in the position to host a Test match immediately. 

Multan can also host two out of three Tests during the England series. The PCB is also looking at this option.

Meanwhile, the PCB is also going through other best possible options for the three-match Test series against England. At least one of three Test matches can be even shifted to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, it doesn’t seem easy for the PCB.

During the Pakistan vs England Test series, Dubai and Sharjah will host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, which will run between October 3 and 20, 2024. 

So, Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium can be an option. However, it will host the two-match T20I series and three-match ODI series between Ireland and South Africa from September 27 to October 7. So, practically, Abu Dhabi isn’t available at least for the first Test against England.

Due to the fixture congestion, the PCB is facing trouble finalising the venues for the three-match Test series against England.

We can't pick a team until we know where we're going to play: Brendon McCullum

As some English cricket fans will also travel to experience the three-match Test series, the PCB is under pressure to confirm the schedule as soon as possible. The delay in the venues’ finalisation is setting big challenges in the logistical arrangements.

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Before the last Test of the three-match home Test series against Sri Lanka, the English Test head coach Brendon McCullum also showed his significant concern about the team selection for the upcoming Pakistan tour.

McCullum said, "We don't really know [what the final venues]. But we can't pick a team until we know where we're going to play. It would be nice if over the next couple of days, we found out. And then we'll sit down and make sure we've got the right team for the right conditions and the right opposition."