Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal has voiced his frustration with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for deciding to hold the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh behind closed doors.
The Test, scheduled to take place in Karachi, will be played without spectators due to ongoing renovations at the National Stadium for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Akmal believes that this decision will harm Pakistan's cricket reputation on an international level.
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What is Kamran Akmal's criticism over PCB's decision?
Kamran Akmal strongly criticized the PCB's choice to host the Test match without fans, calling it a "joke" that would negatively affect Pakistan's cricket image.
Akmal suggested that the PCB could have shifted the match to another venue, like Faisalabad or Multan, where the stadiums are in good condition and capable of accommodating fans.
"It will be an international joke that a Test match in Pakistan is being played without a crowd. We have other stadiums like Faisalabad and Multan that could have hosted this match with spectators," Akmal said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
Akmal also expressed concerns about the future of Test cricket in Pakistan, saying that the sport is already struggling to attract fans in the country. He believes that playing a Test match without an audience will further damage the sport's popularity.
"We already knew that this stadium will be broken. A new one will be made. So why didn't they put all these things in front and make a decision? You will see how much our cricket brand has gone down internationally," he added.
Akmal's comments highlight the ongoing challenges facing Test cricket in Pakistan. As the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh approaches, the PCB's decision to proceed without a crowd remains a point of contention.