England’s first tour of Pakistan in 17 years begins on September 20, as the men’s team will play seven T20Is in Karachi (first four) and Lahore (last three). The last game before England travel to Australia for the Men’s T20 World Cup is on October 2. He is due to return to Pakistan in December for a three-Test series – his first Test in Pakistan since the 2005–06 tour.
They will also host New Zealand in two spells, in what the PCB has called Pakistan’s “bumper international season”, first in December-January for two Tests and three ODIs, and then in April next year for five ODIs and five T20Is. . West Indies will also tour Pakistan for three T20 Internationals at the end of January. In a statement, the PCB said that the schedule for England’s Test series as well as matches against New Zealand and West Indies will be released at an “appropriate time”.
The series will be the second of seven T20Is or more, with encounters between the Malawi and Mozambique men’s teams in 2019 being the only previous example of such a long bilateral series.
A three-member ECB security-assessment team visited Pakistan in late July to take stock of the arrangements. The team went back satisfied enough to flag off England’s first tour of Pakistan in 17 years.
“We demonstrated our organizing planning and handling skills in the highly successful series against Australia in March-April and I am confident that we will be able to replicate that when England approach us for the first time since 2005,” Zakir said. “We have been able to confirm the T20I schedule following the successful tour of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s Reiki team, who were pleased and satisfied with all our arrangements.”
“We are in close contact with the PCB to arrange this visit and Tests later in the year, and will continue to work closely with the PCB, the British High Commission and other relevant authorities as we continue to prepare for these tours.”
Rob’s
“We would like to thank the PCB and the city authorities for all their assistance in planning the tours, including hosting the recent pre-tour planning tour by ECB representatives and the PCA CEO.”
