The Australia men’s cricket team will tour Pakistan for three Tests, as many One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and a T20I, in March next year, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Monday.
Notably, the upcoming tour will be Australia’s first tour of Pakistan since 1998. While the Tests will take place in Karachi between March 3 and 7, the second and last Test will be staged in Rawalpindi and Lahore between March and 25 March respectively.
On the other hand, Lahore will be the venue for the four white-ball matches, which will be played between March 29 to April 5, 2022.
The Tests will be played as part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), while the ODIs will be connected to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League – a 13-team event from which the seven highest-placed sides and the hosts, India, will qualify directly for the event proper in 2023.
Commenting on the development, PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja, who played eight Tests and 18 ODIs against Australia said: “I am delighted to welcome Australia to Pakistan. From a personal point of view, it pleases me no end that we’ll be engaged in a three-Test match series, connoisseurs delight. Australia are one of the high-performing sides and them playing in our backyard for the first time after a gap of 24 years will be a special treat for the fans.”
“Likewise, it will be a great opportunity for the Australia cricketers to not only play at our iconic venues but also feel and enjoy the respect, love and hospitality that this great country offers, something which most of their previous generation of cricketers missed out by playing offshore,” he added.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) Chief Executive Nick Hockley expressed: “Cricket Australia is excited about the prospect of touring Pakistan next year for what will be a highly anticipated series in a country so incredibly passionate about the game and their national team.”
“Pakistan is a formidable opposition with an exceptionally talented team, as evidenced by their dynamic performances in the current ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the UAE. We thank the PCB for their considerable efforts in planning for the tour and look forward to continuing to work closely over the coming months to finalise the necessary operations, logistics, security and Covid-19 protocols. The safety and welfare of our players and staff remains our number one priority, and we will continue to work with the PCB and relevant agencies to ensure that appropriate and sufficient arrangements are put in place for the tour,” he added.
“As part of the reconnoitering process, Cricket Australia’s delegation will visit Pakistan to meet with PCB officials as well as provincial and federal authorities to discuss and finalise matters relating to team operations, logistics, security and Covid-19 protocols,” the PCB said in a statement.
Significantly, Australia had last toured Pakistan in 1998-99 when Mark Taylor led the visitors to a 1-0 series victory.
Schedule of Australia Tour of Pakistan:
3-7 Mar – 1st Test, Karachi
12-16 Mar – 2nd Test, Rawalpindi
21-25 Mar – 3rd Test, Lahore
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29 Mar – 1st ODI, Lahore
31 Mar – 2nd ODI, Lahore
2 Apr – 3rd ODI, Lahore
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5 Apr – only T20I, Lahore