LAHORE: Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is likely to continue hosting the white-ball series between Australia and Pakistan starting from March 29 if the situation remains volatile in the capital amid growing political temperature.
Though the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to cancel hotel booking in Islamabad where the both teams are scheduled to check-in from March 26 onward, the changing political situation and possibility of conflict like situation in capital has forced the board to prepare a contingency plan.
“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 said.
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“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 (from March 29-April 5) including three One-Dayers and one-off T20 at the Pindi Stadium. Otherwise, these matches will be shifted to Lahore.
“The growing possibility at this point of time is that all the limited-overs matches will be staged in Lahore as the political tension is increasing by each passing day in and around Islamabad.”
The official added that safety and security of the teams and accompanied officials would be the top priority.
