PCB announces New Zealand's arrival to Pakistan ahead of T20 WC, confirms full schedule

Pakistan is all set to host New Zealand at home for the first time since November 2003 just before the T20 World Cup. The two teams will play three ODIs and five T20 Internationals. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Thursday, announced full itinerary of the tour with three ODIs to be played first followed by the T20Is. The tour will conclude on October 3, exactly two weeks before the scheduled start of the T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman.

The tour clashes with the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which will start on September 19. Interestingly, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Chief David White last week confirmed that all the Kiwi players will be available for the IPL. This makes it clear that the key BlackCaps players will not be selected for the Pakistan tour.

As far as the tour is concerned, the visiting contingent will reach Pakistan on September 11 and serve mandatory quarantine for next three days. They will be allowed to train and practice on September 15 and 16 before the ODI series gets underway on 17th. The next two ODIs will take place on September 19 and 21 respectively.

Rawalpindi to host ODIs, T20Is will be played in Lahore

While Rawalpindi will host the ODI series, the T20 Internationals will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The tussle in the shortest format will get underway on September 25. It is a busy schedule for New Zealand as well in September as they will be touring Bangladesh before travelling to Pakistan for a five-match T20I series.

“Series against a top-ranked side like New Zealand will be a perfect start to a mouth-watering and highly-exciting home season of red and white-ball cricket. The 2019 World Cup finalists, who are also the World Test champions and ranked third in T20Is, will draw tremendous attraction and interest from the local fans, and will reinforce Pakistan’s status as a safe and secure country.

“I am pleased New Zealand Cricket has accepted our offer to play two additional Twenty20 Internationals. These will not only provide extra games to both the countries as part of their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup preparations, but will also allow New Zealand players to spend extra days in Pakistan, familiarise with our culture and enjoy our hospitality,” PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan according to the release.

Series schedule

11 Sep – Arrival in Islamabad

12-14 Sep – Room isolation

15-16 Sep – Training/practice/intra-squad match

17 Sep – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi

19 Sep – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi

21 Sep – 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi

25 Sep – 1st T20I, Lahore

26 Sep – 2nd T20I, Lahore

29 Sep – 3rd T20I, Lahore

1 Oct – 4th T20I, Lahore

3 Oct – 5th T20I, Lahore