The National T20 Tournament by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), that is scheduled to start on March 5, has been moved from Peshawar to Rawalpindi due to heightened Pak-Afghan tension.
Peshawar will only host the semi-finals and the final of the competition now.
Earlier the PCB had even awarded the hosting rights for Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar and had even issued the whole schedule. Stadium authorities had made preparations and arrangements for the matches.
However, a revised schedule was made on Tuesday. According to the new plan, league matches will be played in between March 5 and 14 at Pindi Cricket Stadium. The two semi-finals will be played in Peshawar on March 16 followed by the final on March 17.
The PCB has not given an official reason for the abrupt change of venue. Nonetheless, sources indicate decision was taken as result of security issues arising out of the increasing tensions along Pak-Afghan border.
In other news, Pakistan’s campaign for T20 World Cup 2026 ended with a bitter note and therefore, the PCB decided to take strict action against the Pakistan squad.
Each player has been suspended and fined Rs5 million after a series of depressing performances.
Pakistan started the tournament shakily, narrowly avoiding defeat against the Netherlands and scraping past the US.
Expectations were formed high ahead of the clash against India, especially since the team had been so experienced in subcontinental conditions, but they failed to rise to the occasion.
Although a victory over Namibia earned them a position in the Super 8 stage. In Super Eight Stage a game with New Zealand that was affected by rain and loss to England ruined any hopes for a semi-final. A last victory over Sri Lanka was not enough, with New Zealand pushing ahead on net run rate.
Sources said players got word of the fines shortly after the loss to India, another effort by the board to enforce its policy of performance-based accountability.
Also read: Pakistan cricket team’s next plan after ICC T20 World Cup
