On 13 August 2021, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made a minor change to the tour itinerary, moving the matches from the National Stadium in Karachi to the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium due to logistical reasons.[7] On 24 August 2021, the PCB made another adjustment to the schedule,[8] this time bringing the tour forward by three days.[9]
On 17 September 2021, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said they would determine in the next 24 to 48 hours whether they will proceed with the tour or not, after New Zealand cancelled their tour of Pakistan due to a security threat.[10] On 20 September, the ECB announced that the series had been cancelled,[11] citing issues around wellbeing and concerns of travelling to the region.[12] The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Rameez Raja expressed his disappointment on Twitter and criticised England for "failing a member of their cricket fraternity".[13]