The National Stadium in Karachi will operate at its full strength during the upcoming white-ball series between hosts Pakistan and West Indies after the National Command and Control Center (NCOC) allowed a full capacity crowd.
Notably, it will be the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Pakistan that a full house will be permitted.
Earlier, the NCOC had permitted only 25 percent crowd attendance in the stadiums with strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place.
The Windies team is touring Pakistan for a three-match T20I series, which will commence from December 13, and a three-match ODI series, which is part of the ICC World Cup Super League.
All the six limited-overs match will be staged at the National stadium.
As per reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had requested the national apex COVID-19 body to allow 100 percent capacity for the series.
The Windies team is scheduled to arrive in Karachi on December 9 while the first contest will be held on December 13.
Earlier on Thursday, the Pakistan selectors had announced the T20I and ODI squads for the home series.
In a statement, the PCB had said that the T20I matches will count towards the ICC T20I Rankings, while the 50-over games will be part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League.
From the 18 players who were part of the recently-concluded T20I series against Bangladesh, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shoaib Malik have been left out, while fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain has been added to the 15-man squad, the PCB had announced.
On the other hand, from the 17 players who were available for selection for the England ODIs in July, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Wasim Jnr have replaced Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Salman Ali Agha and Sarfaraz Ahmed in the 17-member side, while Abdullah Shafique has been named as a traveling reserve, it added.
Pakistan Squads
T20Is
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper) Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir
ODIs
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Hasnain, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir
Traveling reserve: Abdullah Shafique
Series schedule
13 Dec – 1st T20I, Karachi
14 Dec – 2nd T20I, Karachi
16 Dec – 3rd T20I, Karachi
18 Dec – 1st ODI, Karachi
20 Dec – 2nd ODI, Karachi
22 Dec – 3rd ODI, Karachi