Former Prime Minister Imran Khan is planning protest rallies in the federal capital Islamabad
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan is planning protest rallies in the federal capital Islamabad
The Pakistan Cricket Board has shifted next month’s ODI series against West Indies from Rawalpindi to Multan in view of expected protest rallies by opposition leaders.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan is planning protest rallies in the coming days in the federal capital Islamabad, which is adjacent to Rawalpindi.
Mr Khan canceled a planned, open-ended rally and picketing in Islamabad last week after personally leading thousands of his supporters during a march in Islamabad.
The PCB had kept Multan as a back-up option and said on Monday that the three-match ODI series, which is part of the Cricket World Cup Super League, will now be played on June 8, 10 and 12 as per schedule.
Since the PCB is relaying pitches at the National Stadium in Karachi and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Multan is the only other venue available to host international matches.
This will be the first time that Pakistan will host international games during the summer and the PCB has planned to start the games at 4 pm local time. West Indies will reach Islamabad on June 6 and will travel to Multan on a charter flight on the same day.
The ODI series was postponed last year after West Indies played three Twenty20 matches but were forced to return home due to a COVID-19 outbreak in their camp. However, there will be no bio-secure bubble for the ODI series.