Reports: PCB to confirm England tour provided the ECB agrees for a series in Pakistan in 2021

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been under tremendous pressure ever since the COVID-19 broke out. The coronavirus threat is quite serious as of now and it could jeopardize the entire cricketing summer in England. The season of cricket in the United Kingdom generally start from the month of April and runs till the end of September.

As the UK is suffering heavily due to the coronavirus pandemic, it seems that this year the cricket summer in England could face some issues. Recently, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Tom Harrison revealed that the board could face up to 380 million euros in financial losses. This is an account of the loss of 800 days of professional series and tournaments, combining domestic and international cricket.

The Pakistan cricket team is scheduled to tour England later this year for a three-match Test series. With the series against West Indies already in turmoil, the series against Pakistan could act like a resolve for ECB to recover some financial loss. There have been talks that the series could be increased to a four-match affair as well.

PCB to pursued ECB for a series in Pakistan next year

However, recent reports suggest that Pakistan Cricket Board is going to put forth some proposals to the ECB. A source of PCB has confirmed that the board will propose ECB to send the English team on at least a short tour next year.

“The PCB considers the safety of its players as foremost. If the ECB figures out how to persuade Pakistan that the conditions will be ok for the players then there will be brilliant possibilities that the visit will proceed,” said a PCB source, according to a report in BDcrictime. “But the board would go all out to get confirmations from ECB that England will play at least some part of the matches in Pakistan during their return visit one year from now.”

The source also revealed that PCB is seeing this as an opportunity to at least have a discussion of a series between the two teams on Pakistan soil.

“As of now in time ECB needs Pakistan. It gives PCB the ideal chance to make sure about a home series on home soil against England. Regardless of whether they get confirmations about a portion of the matches in Pakistan, it will be a breakthrough,” the source added.

Recently, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have played cricket in Pakistan. The Marylebone Cricket Club Club (MCC) also played a few matches in the country earlier this year.