Pakistan vs Australia ODIs and T20I moved from Rawalpindi to Lahore amid political tension in Islamabad
India Today
Australia tour of Pakistan: The 3-match ODI series and the lone-T20I will be moved from Rawalpindi to Lahore due to prevailing political tensions in nearby Islamabad.
The 3-match ODI series and the lone T20I between Pakistan and Australia which was scheduled to be held in Rawalpindi from March 29 has been moved to Karachi, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad said on Friday. The decision has been taken due to the prevailing political tension in Islamabad.
The ODIs and the T20I will be hosted by the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore which will also host the final Test of the ongoing 3-match series. Pakistan and Australia played out two drawn Tests, one each in Rawalpindi and Karachi in Australia's first trip to the Asian nation in 29 years.
"The matches are being shifted to Lahore because of political activities in the capital," Ahmad told reporters on Friday.
#BREAKING Pakistan-Australia ODIs, T20 moved from Rawalpindi to Lahore on 'political' grounds: minister #AFPSports pic.twitter.com/QBb5ifVMRb
There have been no threats received by the teams but the decision to shift the venue of the limited-overs series comes even as political rallies for and against the government are planned in Islamabad, which is close to Rawalpindi in the coming days, according to the news agency AFP.
According to Pakistan media, the parliament session for the vote of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan will be held sooner than later.
Australia cricketers, including Test captain Pat Cummins, have stressed that they are happy with the security in Pakistan and the hospitality extended by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Both the Rawalpindi and the Karachi Tests had the crowd at the stands as Pakistan welcomed top-tier international cricket to its soil after more than a decade.
