Less than two weeks before the start of their series, England's second Test in Pakistan has been relocated from Karachi to Multan. The switch means that Multan will now host back-to-back matches, with the third Test still set to take place in Rawalpindi as originally planned.
This change follows weeks of speculation due to ongoing renovations at Karachi’s National Stadium. Initially, there were suggestions that the entire series might be moved out of Pakistan, with the UAE mentioned as a possible alternative venue. However, only one alteration was made, and the first Test will begin in Multan on 7 October, followed by the second on 15 October, and the final Test starting on 24 October.
England previously played in both Multan and Rawalpindi during their 2022 tour of Pakistan, when they made history as the first visiting team to win a series 3-0 in the country. The squad is scheduled to depart on 1 October, just two days after completing a home one-day series against Australia.
As for England’s Test captain, Ben Stokes, he is due to undergo a scan next week to assess his hamstring injury before the team leaves. Stokes sustained the injury while playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred in early August, which caused him to miss England’s recent 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka. The scan will help monitor his recovery, and although it’s not linked to any new setback, England remains uncertain whether Stokes will be fit for the first Test. The 33-year-old could feature as a batter only, or potentially miss out altogether depending on his fitness.