LAHORE: Worsening smog has cost Lahore its scheduled Test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with the Pakistan Cricket Board confirming that the fixture has been moved to Rawalpindi.
Second Test Shifted to Rawalpindi
The second Test will now take place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 17 to 21, 2026. The match dates remain unchanged.
According to the PCB, increasing smog levels in Lahore prompted the decision to relocate the fixture. The announcement confirms the change of venue ahead of the five-day match.
Under the original schedule announced in August, Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium was due to host the second Test, while Rawalpindi was assigned the opening match from November 9 to 13. The revised arrangement means Rawalpindi will host both matches of the series.
Previous Matches Affected by Smog
The disruption follows earlier instances of smog affecting international cricket in Pakistan. Air-quality concerns prompted the relocation of a limited-overs series against Zimbabwe from Lahore to Rawalpindi in 2020, while a Test against New Zealand was shifted from Multan to Karachi in 2022.
