Why Pakistan were forced to shift Sri Lanka Test from Lahore to Rawalpindi

Pakistan have changed the venue of the second Test against Sri Lanka because of worsening smog in Lahore.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday that the second match of the two-Test series will now be played in Rawalpindi instead of Lahore.Rawalpindi is already hosting the first Test of the series. The second match will also be played at the same venue from November 17 to 21. The dates have not been changed.Lahore has been facing poor air quality in recent weeks as heavy smog has covered large parts of Pakistan during the winter season.According to IQAir, a Swiss company that monitors air quality, Lahore is currently the most polluted major city in the world.The poor air quality has forced Pakistan to shift cricket matches to other venues in the past as well.In November 2020, Pakistan moved its limited-overs series against Zimbabwe from Lahore to Rawalpindi because of smog.In December 2022, a Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand was also shifted from Multan to Karachi due to similar air-quality concerns.Despite the change in venue, the second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will take place on the originally scheduled dates.The two teams will play the match in Rawalpindi from November 17 to 21.