Lahore, April 8, 2025: In a major development for cricket fans in Punjab, Faisalabad is poised to host international cricket once again, with two matches of the upcoming Pakistan-Bangladesh T20I series expected to take place at Iqbal Stadium — the first since 2008.
According to reports by a private news channel, Bangladesh is scheduled to tour Pakistan in the third week of May for a five-match T20I series. The matches are tentatively set for May 25, 27, and 30, followed by two more on June 1 and 3.
Sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) suggest that the first two T20Is will be held in Faisalabad, while the remaining three matches will be played in Lahore.
This move would mark the first international match at Iqbal Stadium since April 11, 2008, when Pakistan hosted Bangladesh in a One Day International (ODI). The revival of top-tier cricket at the venue is part of PCB’s broader initiative to decentralize international fixtures and engage cricket fans in regions beyond major urban centers.
Originally proposed as a three-ODI and three-T20I series, the format was later revised to a five-match T20I series after mutual agreement between the PCB and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The change aligns with both teams’ preparations for the Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Pakistan holds a dominant record in T20I encounters between the two sides, having won 16 out of 19 matches, while Bangladesh has claimed victory in 3.
