Rawalpindi may be dropped for India tour

Rawalpindi may not host its scheduled matches between Pakistan and India early next year because of construction delays. Faisalabad is likely to be the replacement venue.

All five venues for the series are undergoing refurbishment that will cost the Pakistan board Rs 800 million. Rawalpindi was marked down for the second of three Tests and third of five ODIs against India.

But Saleem Altaf, the PCB's director-general, said the renovation work in the stadium was likely to be completed only by June next year. "The outfield is in really bad shape and we have sent our chief curator Agha Zahid to inspect it," Altaf told PTI. "He has given a report but it will take time for the outfield to be repaired properly."

However, Altaf added that Faisalabad was also not ready. Rawalpindi last hosted an international match in 2006 - an ODI between Pakistan and West Indies - while its last Test was during India's 2004 tour.

Earlier this year the venue was dropped for security reasons from the Champions Trophy which was eventually postponed to 2009.