Former national team wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal criticized the board for the decision to hold the Test against Bangladesh in the Karachi stadium without fans.
Kamran Akmal on his YouTube channel, Kamran Akmal said that in the Karachi Test match against Bangladesh, expressing his displeasure over the match being held without fans in the stadium, he suggested that this match could have been held in Faisalabad or Multan where the stadium facilities and Fans can enjoy.
He said that renovation works are being done in the stadium for the Champions Trophy, it is a joke that Test matches are being played without crowd, there are only 2 or 3 stadiums! We have Faisalabad Stadium and the match could have been moved there.
Apart from this, there is Multan Cricket Stadium, a good crowd could be seen there too, so why are matches being played in empty stadiums in Karachi? Our cricket brand has gone down at the international level.
Kamran Akmal said that among the top officials of the board, the chairman should be asked the question. If there will be no crowd even in the home series, then what is the benefit of the matches? Test cricket has come a long way. No one likes to see him in Pakistan.
Earlier, the PCB had said in its statement that the second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh (August 30 to September 3) due to ongoing construction work at the National Stadium Karachi due to preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. will be played, fans will not be able to come to the stadium to support their home team.
PCB says that due to construction work in the stadium, they are unable to host the fans and extreme measures are being taken, they value the fans but their health and safety is paramount.
It should be noted that the Test series between Pakistan and Bangladesh will start from next week, the first match of which will be played on August 21 in Rawalpindi and the second on August 30 in Karachi.