PCB proposes Rawalpindi as venue for Sri Lanka Test series By; Asghar Ali Mubarak

PCB proposes Rawalpindi as venue for Sri Lanka Test series
By; Asghar Ali Mubarak

Test match cricket is likely to make a return to Pakistan in December 2019 with the PCB putting forward Rawalpindi and Karachi as possible venues for the two-match series against Sri Lanka.The decision to schedule a Test in Rawalpindi, which last hosted five-day cricket when India toured in 2004, would represent the first expansion of cricket beyond the major hubs of Lahore and Karachi. That Lahore has been overlooked as a venue for the series is something of a surprise, though it is believed the lack of daylight hours and the high likelihood of seasonal smog were the major reasons for the PCB looking elsewhere. Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is an international standard cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. This stadium has recently been expanded to cater to the ever-increasing number of spectators for the game. With the increase in capacity, it can now hold around 25,000 spectators. The stadium hosted its First Test match played between Pakistan v Zimbabwe from Dec 9th –14th in 1993. First Test: Dec 9–14, 1993 – Pakistan v Zimbabwe.
First ODI: 19 Jan 1992 – Pakistan v Sri Lanka.
Test record at Pindi cricket stadium
Highest Team Total: 600 India v Pakistan 13 Apr 2004
Lowest Team Total: 139 WestIndies v Pakistan 29 Nov 1997
Highest Individual Score: 270 R Dravid India v Pakistan 13 Apr 2004
Highest partnership: 323 Aamer Sohail, Inzamam-ul-Haq Pakistan v West Indies 29 November–3 December 1997.The 2nd Test played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi – Pakistan won by an innings and 29 runs. It is mentioned here I Asghar Ali Mubarak sports journalist along with Mr.Mohi Shah sports journalist The News and cricket commentator Chisti Mujahid was the member of man of the match jury who declared Inzamam-ul-Haq man of the match aganst the West Indian national cricket team toured Pakistan in October to December 1997 and played a three-match Test series against the Pakistani national cricket team. Pakistan won the Test series 3–0. West Indies were captained by Courtney Walsh and Pakistan by Wasim Akram.Before the construction of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi Club Cricket Ground had been used as a venue for international matches, including one Test match against New Zealand that was held in March 1965.Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was a prime spot in the 1995–96 Cricket World Cup. With an eye on the World Cup of 1996, unveiled another new Test venue for the second Test against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi. Karachi staged Pakistan’s first Test match and Rawalpindi Cricket stadium became the country’s 14th Test ground. The flood lights were added in late 2001 when the Australians were set to tour the Region. The stadium is just 20 minutes from the capital Islamabad and is the only proper international stadium in the territory.Perched on the edge of the city of almost four million people and only three miles away from the capital Islamabad. Rawalpindi was used last January for the fifth and final One Day International against Sri Lanka, which Pakistan won by 117 runs to win the one-day series by a margin of 4–1.
In April 2018, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the venue, along with several others in the country, would get a makeover to get them ready for future international matches and fixtures in the Pakistan Super League. According to a cricket web site the understands progress has been made with regards to ensuring the Test series takes place in Pakistan – the first of its kind since 2009 – with the board just awaiting the go-ahead from Sri Lanka Cricket. As for the players themselves, it is not yet clear which, if any, are reluctant to tour. As per the PCB’s proposed schedule, the Test series will last only a fortnight, roughly the same amount of time Sri Lanka were in the country for a limited-over’s tour earlier this year. They played three ODIs in Karachi and two T20Is in Lahore between September 27 and October 10, and though several of their senior players pulled out, the fact it went off without a hitch, plus the better-than-expected results for what was called a second-string team, may have convinced some of them to travel to Pakistan again. The last completed Test to be played in Pakistan took place in Karachi, which will host the second game of this series, should it go ahead. The last recorded Test in Pakistan was the one that was abandoned after two days in Lahore, following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009.