KARACHI: A security delegation of the England and Wales Cricket Board will visit Pakistan next week to inspect the potential venues for the team’s tour later this year.

The delegation will comprise security officials of the ECB and a representative of the Professional Cricketer’s Association — England’s players’ body.

According to sources, the officials will assess venues in Lahore, Karachi, Multan and Rawalpindi for Pakistan’s seven-match Twenty20 International series and three-match Test series against England scheduled for September and November-December respectively.

During its visit, the security delegation will meet representatives of the cities’ local administration while also carrying out inspection of the hotels — where the teams will potentially stay during the tours — and assess the route to the stadiums.

Since the return of Test cricket to Pakistan in 2019 after a 10-year gap, only Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore have hosted five-day games.

However, Dawn understands that Multan is in consideration for one of the 10 matches during England’s visit, which, if goes ahead, will take place after nearly 17 years.

The Multan Cricket Stadium hosted Pakistan’s three-match One-day International series against the West Indies in June and witnessed full-houses throughout the series.

England were scheduled to visit Pakistan for five T20s last year, but the ECB pulled out of the tour citing players’ mental well-being issues. The withdrawal came days after New Zealand abruptly aborted their tour fearing “security threats”.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2022