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Kamran Akmal slams PCB. (Picture Credit: AFP, X/@ICC)
The second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh is scheduled to take place at the National Stadium in Karachi from August 29 onwards.
Pakistan will face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series that starts next week. The series opener is scheduled to take place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, whereas the National Stadium in Karachi will host the second red-ball match from August 29 onwards. A few days ago, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the second Test in Karachi would be played behind closed doors.
According to PCB, spectators will not be allowed during the second Test due to ongoing renovations at the National Stadium.
“In light of ongoing construction work at the National Bank Stadium as part of preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made the difficult decision to hold the second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, scheduled from August 30 to September 3, without spectators in attendance,” the PCB said.
“We understand the vital role that our enthusiastic supporters play in cricket, providing encouragement and inspiration to our players. However, after thoroughly considering all options, we have concluded that the safest course of action is to hold the match without spectators,” PCB added.
PCB’s decision to play the second Test without fans has not gone down well with former Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal, who has slammed the board for making a joke of Pakistan at the international level.
According to Kamran, instead of Karachi, PCB could’ve staged the match in Faisalabad or Multan.
“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,” Kamran said in a video uploaded from his YouTube channel.
“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 at 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,” he added.
