Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
The England and Wales Cricket Board will visit Karachi to play two T20Is against Pakistan on October 14 and 15 2021. ECB will make a comeback to Pakistan after a gap of 16 years gap as they last toured Pakistan in 2005 when they played three Tests and five ODIs.
Later on, Pakistan played against England in 2012 and 2015 in the United Arab Emirates. After the two-match series, both the teams will leave for India on 16 October for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
ECB Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison has an emphasis on the safety and welfare of the team and their support staff and has ensured that they are working closely with PCB to churn out this visit peacefully.
“We are working closely with the PCB to ensure all the necessary plans are in place, especially concerning the anticipated levels of security around the team, the proposed travel protocols, and of course the situation regarding the fast-moving and ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic. The two-match series will serve as ideal preparation for the England team leading into an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup taking place in India during October and November 2021″, he said to the media.
2021 will see the return of international cricket in Pakistan after a long gap occurred due to a terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009. However, after a long wait, South Africa, New Zealand, and England are set to play in the country next year.
Wasim Khan, who is the Chief Executive of PCB, mentioned how the board has been working for the past two years to build a healthy relationship with international cricket boards and players so that international cricket could be played in the country on a consistent basis.
“The October 2021 T20Is will allow the leading England cricketers to access and examine the world-class arrangements we will put together, which will give them further encouragement and confidence to not only return in 2022-23 but also express their interest in the Pakistan Super League, which has grown to become one of the top leagues in the world. The enhanced progress made over the last two years has been down to nurturing relationships with various cricket boards and international players, as well as building trust and confidence. Importantly, this announcement speaks volumes about the relationship that we have with the ECB and I would like to thank the ECB for their strong will and desire to make this short tour a reality”, Khan said in his statement.
PCB is also expecting Australia visit for their FTP commitment in early 2022, with England returning for both Test and White Ball tours in the 2022-23 season.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
