PCB halts ticket sales: Babar Azam-led Pakistan team to face Bangladesh in 1st Test without spectators

The upcoming second cricket Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Karachi, scheduled to start on Aug. 30, will unfortunately be played behind closed doors. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced that the decision was made due to ongoing construction work at the National Bank Stadium, preventing fans from attending the match.

The PCB started renovating the stadium this month as part of its preparations for next year’s Champions Trophy, which begins Feb. 19. The PCB said it has suspended ticket sales for the Karachi test “with immediate effect” and that fans who have already purchased tickets will receive a full refund.

“The health and safety of our fans is our utmost priority,” the PCB said in a statement. “After careful consideration of all available options, we have decided that the safest course of action is to hold the second test in front of an empty stadium.”

The cricket board said it wanted to make the stadium more spectator-friendly for the Champions Trophy, which will be the first ICC event hosted in Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup. The first test match will be played at Rawalpindi starting Aug. 21.

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