ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Saturday that it had mutually decided with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) to shift the venue of the second Test match from Multan to Karachi owing to "deteriorating weather conditions."

New Zealand arrived earlier this week in Pakistan to play a historic Test and ODI series against Pakistan. The visit comes a little over a year after the Black Caps abruptly abandoned their tour of Pakistan in September 2021, citing a security alert. 

The second Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand was scheduled to be played in Multan from January 3 to 7. However, foggy conditions forced the PCB to change the venue to Karachi, which is hosting the first Test match of the series as well from December 26-30. 

As a result of the change in venue, the second Test will be held in Multan from January 2-6 now, the PCB confirmed. 

"The Pakistan Cricket Board and New Zealand Cricket have mutually agreed to shift the second Test in Multan to Karachi due to deteriorating weather conditions, which have already disrupted flight operations and may also potentially result in the loss of playing hours," the PCB said. 

The change in venue has also revised the original schedule of the three One Day Internationals to be played between the two sides. All three ODIs, part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League, will be played now on 9, 11 and 13 January. All matches, as per the original schedule, will be played in Karachi. 

REVISED ITINERARY

26-30 December - 1st Test, Karachi

2-6 January – 2nd Test, Karachi

9 January – 1st ODI, Karachi

11 January – 2nd ODI, Karachi

13 January – 3rd ODI, Karachi

Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who is under scrutiny after Pakistan got whitewashed by England, said the team would fight back. "There have been difficult times in the last series," Azam told reporters.

"With new players, it's different because when the opposition attacks them, it places a sharper kind of pressure on them," he said.

Pacer Naseem Shah will return to the squad. However, fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf will not partake in the series due to injuries.