ECB announces full fixtures for Pakistan tour of England

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is the first cricket board to resume the sport amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The game of cricket was halted for the past four months in the view of the COVID-19 outbreak. After the unexpected long break, the England board is trying hard to bring back some kind of normalcy in the game. 

The West Indies tour of England starting from July 8 will mark the beginning of cricket once again after a span of four months. The three-match Test series is historic as this would be the first time that cricket would be played without the spectators.

Though ECB is resuming the game, the authorities are taking proper precautions and are following all the guidelines laid by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ensure the safety of people involved. As a result, Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford are chosen for hosting the matches considering that they have on-site hotels that would help in building a biosecure bubble. 

After the West Indies, England is also expected to play against Ireland and Pakistan respectively later in the month of July. On Monday, England Cricket locked the venues and dates for hosting the Pakistan cricket team for a three-match Test series and a three-match T20I series.

The Pakistan tour will begin with the first Test match on August 5 at Old Trafford followed by the other two matches at Ageas Bowl starting from August 13 and August 21. Also, the T20I matches between England and Pakistan would be conducted on August 28, 30, and September 1 at Old Trafford. 

Cricket is now ready to return: ECB CEO Tom Harrison 

Apart from the Pakistan series, ECB has also decided upon the dates for the Ireland tour of England. Ireland is scheduled to play three One-day Internationals against England on July 30, August 1, and August 4. However, there is no clarity on the venue of the ODI series with Ireland. 

ECB’s Chief Executive Tom Harrison confirmed the dates for the Pakistan and Ireland series. Harrison said, “Confirmation of these matches against Ireland and Pakistan is another important step for our game as we begin to safely stage international cricket again, but also to minimize the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had and will continue to have, on cricket at all levels.”

“It has taken significant effort and expertise to allow us to reach a position where cricket is now ready and able to return to the field of play from the elite level to recreational cricket,” he added.