Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test moved from Lahore to Rawalpindi over smog

The second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 17 to 21 November, not at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Tuesday, 10 November. The dates stay the same. PCB spokesperson Amir Mir said on social media that the board moved the match because of the weather and the rising smog in Lahore, Geo News and Dawn reported.

How bad is Lahore’s air?

Lahore has spent about 10 days under thick smog. Reports put the Air Quality Index close to 600 at its worst, far into the “hazardous” range, where doctors advise everyone to stay indoors. Five days of Test cricket in that air would have been a risk for players, umpires, ground staff and spectators, and poor visibility would have cut playing time.

Punjab officials have again blamed part of the haze on smoke blowing in from India after Diwali, Reuters reported, while also pointing to local sources such as traffic, brick kilns and crop burning. Whatever the mix, the board decided it could not wait for the air to clear.

What it means for the series

Rawalpindi now hosts both Tests. That suits Pakistan, who are already playing there in the first Test: they declared on 434 for nine on day two, with Saud Shakeel making 93, and had Sri Lanka 114 for three in their second innings when bad light stopped play. The series counts towards the World Test Championship 2025-27, so every point matters.

For Lahore fans it is a blow. There will now be no Test in Lahore on this tour. Anyone who bought tickets for Gaddafi Stadium should watch for the PCB’s refund or transfer notice.

Not the first time

Smog has already shut schools and cancelled flights in Lahore this month, and Allama Iqbal International Airport saw cancellations as visibility dropped. Moving a Test is a new step, and a sign that the smog season is starting to shape the sporting calendar in Punjab.

The second Test starts on Tuesday, 17 November, in Rawalpindi.