Second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand moves to Karachi due to inclement weather conditions predicted in Multan

Pakistan will be hosting New Zealand for a two-match Test series starting Monday, December 26. While the opening game will be contested at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi as per the schedule, there is a change in the venue for the second Test.

The second and final Test match will now also be played in Karachi. It was originally scheduled to take place in Multan on January 3. Meanwhile, the game has also been preponed by a day and the action will get underway on January 2, 2023.

According to reports, the entire series including the second Test and the subsequent three-match One Day International series has been moved to Karachi due to inclement weather conditions in Multan.

Why have all the matches been rescheduled in Karachi?

As per reports in ESPNcricinfo, "Talks were on between the two boards to rejig the schedule as severe fog and even smog is expected in Punjab - Multan and Lahore are both in the area - in early January. The PCB noted in a statement on Saturday that the weather in Multan had already disrupted flight operations and may also potentially result in the loss of playing hours."

Meanwhile, the ODIs are scheduled to be played on January 9, 11, and, 13 and there will be a lot of expectations on the shoulders of the Pakistani players after their recent 0-3 drubbing in Tests at home against England.

At the same time, this will also be Pakistan’s very first assignment with Najam Sethi as the newly-elected Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He has replaced Ramiz Raja who was recently axed due to underwhelming results during his tenure.

Ahead of this eagerly-awaited bilateral series, the PCB management committee has also appointed former skipper Shahid Afridi as the interim Chair of the Men’s National Selection Committee. Haroon Rashid has been appointed as the Convener of this committee and the panel members include Afridi’s former teammates Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum.