Reports: Lahore & Karachi likely to host the T20I series between England & Pakistan

ENG vs PAK 2022: Lahore, Karachi likely to host the T20I series in September-October

The PCB chairman Ramiz Raja has confirmed that the seven-match T20I series between Pakistan and England is likely to be staged in Lahore and Karachi between September 15 to October 2.

As reported by ESPN Cricinfo, Ramiz has finalized Lahore and Karachi as the venues for the seven T20Is in Pakistan. 

Although the report considers Multan and Rawalpindi as alternative venues for the series, Ramiz clarified that they would likely avoid thinking about other venues as the schedule is very tight. 

However, there's no official word from the Pakistan Cricket Board yet on this news. 

In fact, the series' schedule is expected to be finalized once PCB receives a green signal from the ECB's security team, which will visit the Asian country for inspection in the third week of July. 

The three-member inspection team will examine the country's grounds, hotels, and travel arrangements. They will visit Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, as these are the venues decided by the PCB for the series.

One of PCB's reliable sources has informed that the board will go as per the directives of the ECB inspection team. The source also stressed that the governing body would try to convince ECB to consider Multan for the seven-match T20I series because of the Multan crowd's unconditional love for the game.  

"Our efforts have been to convince the ECB to send the team to Multan as well. Besides being one of the best stadiums in the country, Multan's crowd loves the game and is highly supportive of good cricket no matter from which bat the runs are flowing and who is holding the leather for quality delivery," the PCB source said.

"However, it is up to the ECB to decide on the venues. It is believed that two venues from three major cities are to host the seven-match series which will be finalized at the end of the team's visit to Pakistan," he concluded.

England are set to tour Pakistan for a seven-match T20I series in September, which will be their first tour to the Asian country since 2005.