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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shifted its ODI tri-series between New Zealand, South Africa, and Pakistan from Multan to Lahore and Karachi. This adjustment comes as part of the board’s preparations to host the 2025 Champions Trophy, with the four-match tri-series scheduled to begin on February 8. The games will now take place at […]
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shifted its ODI tri-series between New Zealand, South Africa, and Pakistan from Multan to Lahore and Karachi. This adjustment comes as part of the board’s preparations to host the 2025 Champions Trophy, with the four-match tri-series scheduled to begin on February 8. The games will now take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and the National Stadium in Karachi, venues that have been undergoing significant upgrades.
The move reflects the PCB’s confidence in the readiness of these venues to handle high-profile international matches. With renovations ongoing, the board is focused on ensuring the stadiums meet the standards required for the upcoming Champions Trophy, which will begin on February 19.
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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the relocation of the upcoming ODI tri-series featuring Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa from Multan to Lahore and Karachi. This decision was made due to the advanced stage of preparations at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and the National Stadium in Karachi, both of which are being readied to host the 2025 Champions Trophy. The series, originally set to take place in Multan, will now be hosted in these upgraded venues.
Both stadiums have been undergoing significant renovation and enhancement this season, which has led to some disruptions in the calendar. Neither the Gaddafi Stadium nor the National Stadium hosted any of the seven Test matches this season, with Karachi’s Test against England being moved to Multan. However, the upgrades are seen as essential, particularly with Pakistan hosting its first ICC event in nearly three decades. At the Gaddafi Stadium, the most significant work includes increasing its capacity to 35,000, installing new digital replay screens, and constructing a new players’ and hospitality enclosure. Karachi’s National Stadium has also undergone similar enhancements, while Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium received minor improvements.
The PCB has assured fans, spectators, and the media that all upgradation work will be completed on schedule, with the Gaddafi Stadium set to be inaugurated in the last week of January. A total of ten, and possibly eleven, of the 15 Champions Trophy matches will be played across Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, with the remaining games involving India and one semi-final being played in Dubai. This follows the hybrid model agreed upon by the PCB, BCCI, and ICC, as the Indian government did not permit its team to travel to Pakistan.
Archie Vaughan, the teenage son of former England captain Michael Vaughan, has been named to lead England Under-19s on their upcoming tour of South Africa later this month. This marks a significant moment in the young cricketer’s career, as he follows in his father’s footsteps. The Young Lions are set to play three youth one-day internationals and two youth Tests against South Africa Under-19s, starting from January 17. This announcement comes 20 years after Vaughan senior became the first England captain to win a Test series in South Africa in the post-Apartheid era.
Vaughan expressed his excitement about the captaincy role, revealing that he learned of his appointment during a training camp before Christmas. As a top-order batter and offspinner, he noted that being selected to represent England at this level was already special, but leading the team out on the field was an entirely different experience. “To get the opportunity to represent England at this level is really special in itself, but to lead the team out is something else,” he said.
At just 18 years old, Vaughan is already making a name for himself in county cricket. He signed his first professional contract with Somerset in May and made his county debut in July. In the latter half of the season, he impressed with match figures of 11 for 140 in a key Championship victory over Surrey. This performance was crucial in sparking Somerset’s hopes of winning the title. Throughout his debut season, Archie Vaughan played four first-class and seven 50-over matches, averaging 33.71 with the bat in the Championship.
Reflecting on his rapid rise, Vaughan admitted that it felt surreal to be leading the Under-19s after breaking into Somerset’s first team. “If someone had told me 12 months ago that I would have forced my way into the Somerset first team and be captaining the Under-19s, I wouldn’t have believed them,” he said. Despite his rapid progression, Vaughan remains grounded, adding that he is focused on working even harder to continue his development. His father, Michael Vaughan, went on to become one of England’s most successful captains, with 26 victories in 51 Tests, including the memorable 2005 Ashes triumph.
England Under-19s squad: Archie Vaughan (Somerset, capt), Farhan Ahmed (Nottinghamshire), Tazeem Ali (Warwickshire), Ben Dawkins (Kent), Kesh Fonseka (Lancashire – Test squad only), Alex French (Surrey), Alex Green (Leicestershire), Jack Home (Worcestershire), James Isbell (Middlesex), Eddie Jack (Hampshire), Ben Mayes (Hampshire), James Minto (Durham), Harry Moore (Derbyshire), Joe Moores (Lancashire – ODIs only), Thomas Rew (Somerset), Aaryan Sawant (Middlesex), Naavya Sharma (Middlesex), Alexander Wade (Yorkshire)
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