"It will be a joke" - Kamran Akmal hits out at PCB for hosting Karachi Test vs Bangladesh without spectators

Ex-Pakistan keeper-batter Kamran Akmal has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for hosting the Test match against Bangladesh in Karachi without spectators. The 42-year-old believes Faisalabad Stadium could have easily hosted the fixture.

Due to the ongoing construction work at National Stadium in Karachi, the PCB decided to bar the spectators from attending the fixture. The PCB reasoned that the safety and security of their fans is of utmost priority.

Responding to the development, Akmal stated that it will be a joke by the PCB to host the Karachi Test without fans. As quoted by cricketpakistan.pk, he claimed:

"The second Test match will be played in Karachi. So I think you know that there is a renovation going on in Karachi. They are preparing a stadium for the Champions Trophy. So it will be a joke of Pakistan that Test matches are being played in Pakistan without a crowd. And we don't just have 2-3 stadiums, we also have Faisalabad Stadium. We could have played there too, it is a top-class stadium. So much cricket has happened there."

The ICC had awarded Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025 in 2021. The country is set to host the first ICC event since 1996. However, it could be a hybrid model as the Indian government could stop the men's side from visiting.

"These things should not happen" - Kamran Akmal

Akmal further pointed out that the PCB also had the opportunity to host the Test in Multan. He said:

"After that, there is a stadium in Multan. And you know that Multan stadium is very good. And the crowd also comes there. So you know that this is your stadium, you could have put another Test match on one of these two venues. So it would have been good. So I think it will be an international joke of our cricket. These things should not happen. So let's see why this venue has been decided."

The opening Test against Bangladesh will take place on August 21 in Rawalpindi.