The first Test in Rawalpindi will be played from December 1-5 while the second Test will be played in Multan from December 9-13. Pakistan’s favorite home ground – the National Stadium in Karachi – will host the third and final Test from December 17-21.
Pakistan has lost just two Test matches out of 44 in Karachi, one of which was against England in 2000. South Africa won the second Test when it defeated Pakistan by 160 runs in 2007. Pakistan has won 23 test matches at the National Stadium.
This will be England’s first Test tour of Pakistan since 2005. England are to prepare for the T20 World Cup in Australia before returning in December for a Test series to play a seven-match Twenty20 series in Pakistan next month.
England will play a Test match for the first time in Rawalpindi. There are fond memories of Pakistan in Multan where they beat England by 22 runs during their last tour 17 years ago.
The ECB’s interim chief executive said, “We have been working closely with the PCB in recent months and I am grateful to them for everything they have done, and to make our Tests and T20 tours open to all. I am making a possibility of bringing water.” Officer Claire Connor said in a statement. “The return of our men’s Test team to Pakistan for the first time since 2005 will be a historic occasion. The chance to play Test cricket in front of passionate cricket fans in Pakistan after such a long time is worth cherishing.
PCB’s director of international cricket Zakir Khan said that Pakistan and England have historically had some close Test matches.
“Pakistan cricket fans have waited almost 17 years to see England’s elite players in action,” Khan said. “Both sides have evolved since they last played in Pakistan in 2005 and have been playing entertaining and exciting cricket recently. I am sure this series will live up to the expectations of global cricket fans who want to watch and enjoy competitive and exciting matches.”
Both the teams would like to improve their rank in the WTC points table through this series. In the WTC points table, England is at the seventh position while Pakistan is at the fifth position.