Melbourne, Feb 04 (ANH): Cricket Australia (CA) on Friday announced that the Australian men’s team will tour Pakistan for the first time since 1998. Pakistan said it expected a “keenly contested series”, UNI reported.
“Cricket Australia is pleased to confirm the Australian men’s team tour of Pakistan has been endorsed by the CA Board,” it said.
The tour consist of three Test matches and as many as ODIs besides a T20 match.
The Tests will be part of the ICC World Test Championship while the ODIs are linked to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League.
It is the first time since 1998 that the Australian men’s squad will tour Pakistan, as per UNI.
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CA CEO Nick Hockley said: “I would like to thank the PCB and both the Pakistan and Australian governments for ensuring the tour will proceed for the first time in 24 years. This is a historic occasion and important for the global growth and health of the game.
“I would also like to thank the Australian Cricketers Association and the players, coaches, support teams, staff and security experts for their collaboration in the planning for the tour.
“We are looking forward to an exciting series between two world-class teams.”
PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain said: “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.
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“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.”
There have been some changes to the original schedule and the fixtures for the three-Test series.
As per the revised schedule, the three ODIs are to be played from March 29 to April 3 and one-off T20 match to be played on April 5 in Rawalpindi.
The squads for the same will be announced in the coming days.
Test series schedule:
1st Test, March 4-8 in Rawalpindi
2nd Test, March 12-16 in Karachi
3rd Test, March 21-25 in Lahore
ODI Series:
1st ODI, March 29 in Rawalpindi
2nd ODI, March 31 in Rawalpindi
3rd ODI, April 2 in Rawalpindi
The only T20I is to be played on April 5 in Rawalpindi
