Pakistan Cricket Team
Photo: AFP

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the schedule of the much-anticipated England tour of Pakistan today. England would tour Pakistan in two phases, first in September, and then in December 2022. They would play seven Twenty20 Internationals in Karachi and Lahore from September 20 till October 2 in their first tour to Pakistan after 17 years.

Karachi’s National Stadium will host T20s on September 20, 22, 23, and 25, while Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore will host the final three matches on September 28 and 30 and on October 2. All matches will begin at 7:30 PM PST. After T20s, England will leave for Australia to participate in T20 World Cup. They will come back for the second phase in December to play three test matches.

Pakistan’s bumper international season will get underway with the T20I series against England. After playing England in September and December, Pakistan will host matches against New Zealand in two phases; firstly, in December/January for two Tests and three ODIs, and then in April for five ODIs and five T20Is. Followed by a series against West Indies for three Twenty20 Internationals in late January, and then the 50-over ACC Asia Cup.

“We are absolutely delighted to confirm hosting England for seven T20Is in Karachi and Lahore as a curtain-raiser to a busy, entertaining and exciting season of home internationals,” Zakir Khan, PCB director of international cricket, said in a statement. “England is one of the top-ranked T20I teams and them playing the shortest format in the lead-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Pakistan will not only help the team management to finalize their preparations but will also set the tone for December’s three-Test series.”

In late July, an ECB security assessment team of three members visited Pakistan to examine the situation. They returned to England impressed with the security arrangements and gave the go-ahead for England’s first visit to Pakistan since 2005.

“We demonstrated our event planning and operational skills in the highly-successful series against Australia in March-April and I am confident we will be able to replicate these when England visits us for the first time since 2005,” Zakir said. “We have been able to confirm the schedule of the T20Is following a successful tour by the England and Wales Cricket Board recce team, which was pleased and satisfied with all our arrangements.”

The full schedules for the test series against England, as well as New Zealand and the West Indies, will be announced soon. Rob Key, the ECB’s managing director of men’s cricket, said “We are looking forward to returning to Pakistan and playing these seven T20Is as the team builds up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,”

He further added, “We have been liaising closely with the PCB over arrangements for this visit and the Tests later in the year, and will continue to work closely with the PCB, British High Commission, and other relevant authorities as we continue to prepare for these tours.”

“We would like to thank the PCB and the city authorities for all their ongoing assistance with planning for the tours, including hosting the recent pre-tour planning visit by ECB representatives and the PCA CEO.”