Pakistan shift venue for Tri-Nation Series, Lahore and Karachi to Host Tournament

The upcoming tri-nation ODI series featuring Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa will now take place at the newly refurbished stadiums in Lahore and Karachi, as it was confirmed on Saturday (January 25).

The series, scheduled as a prelude to the highly anticipated Champions Trophy, will see each team play one another once before the top two compete in the final.

The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host the opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 8, followed by the day game between New Zealand and South Africa on February 10. Karachi's National Bank Stadium will stage the Pakistan-South Africa clash on February 12, along with the series final on February 14.

This tournament serves as both a warm-up for the Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19, and a test of the upgrades made to the two iconic stadiums. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has significantly improved facilities at both venues to enhance the experience for players, spectators, and global audiences - and it will be a test for the venues ahead of the big spectacle.

The tri-nation series was originally scheduled in Multan, but PCB has shifted the venue to fine tune the Champions Trophy stadiums.

The PCB is yet to announce the team for the Champions Trophy as well. Mohammad Rizwan is set to captain the team while Saim Ayub's absence may open the door for Test captain Shan Masood. The squads for both tri-nation series and Champions Trophy is likely to be named together by the end of this month.

Tri-Nation Series Schedule

February 8: Pakistan vs. New Zealand (Day/Night), Lahore
February 10: New Zealand vs. South Africa (Day), Lahore
February 12: Pakistan vs. South Africa (Day/Night), Karachi
February 14: Final (Day/Night), Karachi