The Metro Bus Service in Rawalpindi and Islamabad will remain temporarily suspended during the movement of teams participating in the first Test match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 9 to 13, 2026.
According to the traffic and transport arrangements, the Red Metro Bus Service will be suspended daily from approximately 7:15am to 8:20am as teams travel towards the stadium ahead of the match, which begins at 9:30am.
During this period, Faizabad, Khatam-e-Nabuwat and 6th Road Metro Bus stations will remain closed, and buses will skip these stops.
The service will face another temporary suspension in the evening when teams travel back to their hotel.
Team movement towards the hotel is expected at around 5pm, prompting the suspension of the Red Metro Bus Service from approximately 4:30pm to 5:20pm.
All temporarily closed stations will resume operations after the teams reach their hotel.
Commuters have been advised to plan their journeys accordingly and make alternative travel arrangements during the suspension periods.
Earlier, Islamabad Police issued a traffic advisory ahead of the movement of the Pakistan and Sri Lanka cricket teams, warning citizens of possible traffic diversions and congestion on major roads across the capital. The two-match Test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will begin on November 9, with the first Test scheduled to be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 9 to 13. The second Test will take place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from November 17 to 21.
According to an Islamabad Police spokesperson, traffic will be diverted at various points along Srinagar Highway, particularly between Serena Chowk and Ninth Avenue, during the movement of the teams. Citizens travelling along Srinagar Highway have been advised to use Suhrawardy Road and the service roads of sectors G-8 and G-9 as alternative routes. Those heading towards Zero Point and Faizabad should use Faisal Avenue, while motorists travelling towards Ninth Avenue have been advised to take Service Road East.
Commuters travelling from Koral towards Islamabad have been directed to use Old Airport Road, Rawal Road, Murree Road, IJP Road and Faqir Eppi Road. In case of closures on Koral, Expressway, Murree Road or Club Road, citizens have been advised to use Lehtrar Road and Park Road as alternative routes.
Similarly, those leaving Islamabad should use Jinnah Avenue and Margalla Road, while commuters travelling from Bhara Kahu towards Islamabad have been advised to take the Bani Gala-Park Road route. The police spokesperson warned that traffic congestion is likely to increase on several major roads due to the diversions and advised citizens to allow an additional 20 to 25 minutes for their journeys.
Islamabad Traffic Police personnel will remain deployed at various locations to guide and assist commuters. Citizens can also obtain further information through the official social media pages of Islamabad Police. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s players began training sessions at Islamabad Club on Friday as preparations continued for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.
