Karachi: In a formal announcement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has declared that spectators will be prohibited from attending the second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, owing to the ongoing renovations at Karachi's National Stadium.
This decision was reached considering the current construction activities at the venue, which are being meticulously prepared for the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to take place in Pakistan the following year.
The PCB issued a statement on Wednesday clarifying the situation. "Given the current construction activities at the National Bank Stadium as part of its preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reluctantly decided to proceed with the second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, originally scheduled from August 30 to September 3, without the presence of spectators," the PCB declared.
"We recognize the significant role that our passionate supporters play in cricket, offering encouragement and motivation to our athletes. However, after careful deliberation, it has been determined that the safest approach is to conduct the match without spectators," the PCB further explained.
The second Test match of the two-match series is scheduled to commence on August 30 and will conclude on September 3. The series is expected to begin on August 21 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Consequently, ticket sales for the second Test match have been suspended without delay. The PCB has assured that fans who have pre-purchased tickets will be entitled to a full refund, with the amount to be credited to the account details provided at the time of purchase.
Bangladesh's Test team, led by Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, has arrived in Pakistan and has commenced preparations for their forthcoming series.
Bangladesh Test squad: The team includes notable players such as Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Khaled Ahmed.
