The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the revised schedule of Australia’s tour to Pakistan. The tour will comprise of three Tests, three ODIs, and one T20I.
The tour will now start and end in Rawalpindi with the opening Test to be played from March 4-8 and the four white-ball matches to be played from March 29 to April 5.
The change in the first Test venue means that the second Test will be played in Karachi from March 12-16 and the third in Lahore from March 21-25.
PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain said: “We are pleased that the Cricket Australia Board has formally approved their side’s five-week tour itinerary and confirmed that their best available players will visit Pakistan for the first time in 24 years. We are really excited to host Pat Cummins and his players, and look forward to a competitive series that will comprise three Tests, three ODIs and a T20I.”
“While Australia will arrive at the back of strong performances in their home series against England, our team has been playing excellent cricket resulting in our players sweeping the ICC Awards. This braces for a keenly contested series, something that the fans will thoroughly enjoy and remember for a long time,” he added.
The schedule has been revised to ease logistical and operational challenges as well as to avoid Pakistan Day rehearsals, which usually commence in Islamabad in the second week of March.
The two cricket boards have also agreed that the Australia Test side will complete their isolation in Australia, before arriving in Islamabad on February 27 on a chartered flight. After a one-day room isolation, they will hold training sessions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
Australia’s white-ball players are expected to arrive in Lahore on March 24 following isolation in Australia. After a one-day isolation upon arrival, they will integrate with other members of the side and travel to Islamabad for the first ODI in Rawalpindi on March 29.
The Tests will be part of the ICC World Test Championship, while the ODIs are linked to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League from which the top eight sides, including hosts India, will qualify directly for the 2023 50-over World Cup.
Earlier, Australia’s Test team captain Pat Cummins had said that a near full-strength squad will tour Pakistan as only a few players have security concerns for the forthcoming tour.
Revised schedule:
Feb 27 – Arrival in Islamabad
Mar 4-8 – 1st Test, Rawalpindi
Mar 12-16 – 2nd Test, Karachi
Mar 21-25 – 3rd Test, Lahore
Mar 29 – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi
Mar 31 – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2 – 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi
Apr 5 – one-off T20I, Rawalpindi
Apr 6 – Departure
