Pakistan team and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are facing embarrassment at the international level despite PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi making it clear that England Tests will be hosted in the country itself.

However, PCB finds itself in a bind as the three-Test series is less than a month away and the international department of the board has not released the itinerary for the series. Pakistan will host three Tests against England beginning October 7, with venues in Multan, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.

However, development work at these sites ahead of next year's ICC Champions Trophy has raised concerns about the stadiums' availability. Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place in February-March.

A PCB insider said that although Naqvi rejected a request to relocate the Test series to the UAE or South Africa, the department has not formally confirmed the trip schedule.

"With less than a month remaining for the first Test, the international department is yet to even decide where the first match would be held. The Chairman has made it clear that relocating the series would damage the image of the PCB, and Rawalpindi and Multan should be used as the venues for the three-match series," a PCB insider told PTI.

According to a board insider, even the English cricket board and Barmy Army members are curious about whether the first Test will be held in Multan or Rawalpindi.

In this regard, the insider stated that broadcasters had struggled to sell the series' telecast rights abroad.

"The chairman is not happy because the more the announcement of venues and itinerary is delayed the more it affects the board's revenue generation opportunities from the three matches. Even the broadcasters who have bought the rights to sell the series internationally are worried as they are yet to find a buyer to show the matches in the UK.

In this background, the more the announcement is delayed the more it is hitting the PCB's chances of earning good revenues from the England series," he added.

Recently, the PCB had to call off the National Under-19 Championship after only one day of play in the first round of three-day matches around the country.

"The reason for the postponement was because of various complaints that due process was not followed while selecting the regional teams and secondly the event was launched without the budget for the championship first being approved/released by the finance department of the board," he added.

(PTI inputs)