KARACHI:
Pakistan’s second Test against Sri Lanka has been relocated from Lahore to Rawalpindi because of rising smog levels in the provincial capital, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Tuesday.
The match, originally scheduled to take place at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium from November 17 to 21, will now be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium over the same dates.
A PCB spokesperson confirmed the venue change, saying the decision was taken in view of prevailing weather conditions and increasing smog levels in Lahore.
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The relocation is aimed at addressing concerns surrounding the deteriorating environmental conditions in Lahore, where seasonal smog has increasingly become a challenge during the winter months.
Lahore has regularly experienced severe air pollution during the winter season, when cooler temperatures, stagnant atmospheric conditions and emissions from vehicles and industrial activity contribute to the accumulation of smog. Poor air quality can pose health concerns for players, officials, support staff and spectators, particularly during prolonged outdoor sporting events.
The first Test between the two nations is in operation at the Pindi Stadium.
