PCB announces revised schedule for Australia tour of Pakistan, ODIs and T20I to clash with IPL 2022

Australia will remain true to their commitment of touring Pakistan next month for an all-format tour. This is the first time they will be touring Pakistan in 24 years. Cricket Australia, on Friday (February 4) approved the revised tour dates presented by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The two teams will face each other in three Tests, as many ODIs and a one-off T20 International.

As per the revised schedule announced, the visiting contingent will arrive in Islamabad on February 27 and remain in isolation for one day. According to the agreement between the two boards, Australia’s Test side will complete their isolation back home itself before embarking on a chartered flight. Post the one-day isolation, the visitors will start their training sessions in Pindi Cricket Stadium.

The tour will now commence and end in Rawalpindi with the first Test set to commence on March 4. The three-match ODI series and the one-off T20I will also be played at the same venue. However, the second and third Test will be played in Karachi and Lahore respectively. Interestingly, the ODI series and the T20I is clashing with the IPL 2022 which is set to start on March 27 while the tour is concluding on April 5.

CA confirms best players will tour Pakistan

Meanwhile, PCB’s Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain has stated that Cricket Australia has confirmed that their best players will tour Pakistan. Australia touring will be a huge thing for Pakistan given New Zealand and England canceled their tours last year citing different reasons with security being one of them.

“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,” Hasnain said in a statement released by PCB on their official website.

Here’s the schedule:

27 Feb – Arrival in Islamabad

4-8 Mar – 1^st Test, Rawalpindi

12-16 Mar – 2^nd Test, Karachi

21-25 Mar – 3^rd Test, Lahore

29 Mar – 1^st ODI, Rawalpindi

31 Mar – 2^nd ODI, Rawalpindi

2 April – 3^rd ODI, Rawalpindi

5 Apr – one-off T20I, Rawalpindi

6 Apr – Departure