Schedule announced for England's first tour of Pakistan in 17 years
For the first time in 17 years, England are set to visit Pakistan to play a bumper seven-match T20I series in September-October 2022. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the fixture list for the series today (2 August).
The series begins on 20 September in Karachi, where the two sides will play the first four games before the action heads to Lahore for the last three T20Is.
The limited-overs series will be vital to both sides for their preparation ahead of this year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup in October-November. England and Pakistan are the second and third-ranked teams in the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings currently and are also among the favourites for the marquee event later this year in Australia.
The T20I series will be the first leg of England's tour as they will return after the T20 World Cup for a Test series in December. The three-match could have massive World Test Championship implications, especially for Pakistan who are vying for a top two spot in the standings.
Zakir Khan, PCB Director International Cricket, said: "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.
"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 finalise their preparations, but will also set the tone for December’s three-Test series."
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Schedule:
1st T20I: 20 September, Karachi
2nd T20I: 22 September, Karachi
3rd T20I: 23 September, Karachi
4th T20I: 25 September, Karachi
5th T20I: 28 September, Lahore
6th T20I: 30 September, Lahore
7th T20I: 2 October, Lahore
Pakistan have a bumper home season lined up, which will start with England touring them for the T20I and Test series. New Zealand are then set to visit Pakistan twice – first for two-match WTC Test series and three ODIs in December 2022-January 2023 and then again in April 2023 for five ODIs and five T20Is. The three-match T20I series against West Indies will round off bilateral series engagements in the home season.
Pakistan are also set to host the ACC Asia Cup next year. The 50-over tournament will be the first multi-nation event in Pakistan since the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in 1996.