PAK vs AUS ODIs & T20s shifted to Lahore- The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have been forced to shift the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Australia to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium from Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Ground, given the growing political turmoil in Islamabad which is just 20 minutes distance from Rawalpindi. A PCB official had earlier stated that a change in venues will occur if the tensions continued until the 20th, but the PCB have acted swiftly to keep the tour going. Follow PAK vs AUS live updates on InsideSport.IN.
Slated to begin on March 29, PCB have decided to move Pakistan’s white ball series against Australia to Lahore confirmed Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad announced on Friday, as the situation remains volatile in Islamabad.
Rasheed said that all the T20I and ODI matches scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi under ongoing Pakistan vs Australia series will now be hosted at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
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PAK vs AUS: Political tensions force PCB to shift T20I and ODI series to Lahore, confirms minister
PAK vs AUS: Political tensions force PCB to shift T20I and ODI series to Lahore, confirms minister
“If the political situation in Islamabad stays the same till March 20, all the four white-ball matches will be shifted to Gaddafi Stadium where teams are set to play the final Test of the series starting from March 21,” a PCB official stated, as per quotes in The News.
What is happening in Islamabad? The opposition parties in Pakistan have moved for a no-confidence motion against the ruling government of Imran Khan and have also called for a sit-in protest to be held on March 23 in Islamabad.
On the other hand, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party has announced a public rally and has also deployed around a thousand paramilitary personnel in the Pakistan capital, as per reports in The Print. Given the boiling political temperature in the region, it now is being deemed as nearly impossible to stage cricket matches at Rawalpindi.
PAK vs AUS: Political tensions force PCB to shift T20I and ODI series to Lahore, confirms minister
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How will politics affect cricket? Following the conclusion of the ongoing Test series, Pakistan and Australia are scheduled to play three ODIs and one T20I match at the Pindi Cricket Ground, between March 29 to April 5. Both teams were scheduled to stay at Islamabad, given that it is only 10 kilometres away from the Pindi Cricket Ground. However, the PCB has now been forced to come up with a contingency plan.
PAK vs AUS: Political tensions force PCB to shift T20I and ODI series to Lahore, confirms minister
“We have finalised a contingency plan which will be in operation from March 20. If there is a marked change in the volatile political situation in Islamabad, we would stay with our original schedule and that is to organise all white-ball matches including three One-Dayers and one-off T20 at the Pindi Stadium. Otherwise, these matches will be shifted to Lahore. We cannot take even one percent risk when it comes to the safety and security of the both teams,” the PCB official further stated.
PAK vs AUS: Political tensions force PCB to shift T20I and ODI series to Lahore, confirms minister
- Pakistan were scheduled to play three ODIs and one T20I at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.
- Both teams were scheduled to stay in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, which is around 10 kilometres away from the Pindi Cricket Ground.
- However, given the growing political unrest, it became clear that it will be risky to shift the teams to Islamabad.
- The PCB then already devised a contingency plan – of keeping the two teams at Lahore and playing out the last four matches of the series.
- PCB remains determined not to take even the slightest of risks with the safety of the players.
PAK vs AUS: Political tensions force PCB to shift T20I and ODI series to Lahore, confirms minister
Follow PAK vs AUS live updates on InsideSport.IN.
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