LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shifted the second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka from Lahore to Rawalpindi due to worsening smog and deteriorating air quality in the provincial capital.
The match, which was scheduled to take place at Gaddafi Stadium from November 17 to 21, will now be held at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on the same dates. PCB spokesperson Amir Mir confirmed the venue change , saying the decision had been taken due to the prevailing weather conditions and rising smog levels in Lahore.
The city has been experiencing heavy smog for around 10 days, with its Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching nearly 600, according to monitoring data. The deteriorating air quality raised concerns about the health and safety of players, team officials, support staff and spectators during the five-day match.
With the change, both Tests of the two-match series will be played in Rawalpindi. The opening Test is already under way at the same venue, where Pakistan declared their first innings at 434 for nine, with Saud Shakeel scoring 93. Sri Lanka ended the second day at 114 for three.
This is not the first time air pollution has forced a change to Pakistan’s cricket schedule. In 2020, a limited-overs series against Zimbabwe was moved from Lahore to Rawalpindi, while a Test against New Zealand was shifted from Multan to Karachi in 2022 because of similar air-quality concerns.
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Sri Lanka have been touring Pakistan since early October. Pakistan won the three-match T20I series 2-1 before claiming the ODI tri-series, which also featured England. The ongoing Test series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
The relocation means Lahore will not host a Test during Sri Lanka’s current tour. It also ends the possibility of the city hosting an international match after November 1 for the first time since 2007.
