England Cricket Team is set to visit Pakistan on a short tour next year in 2021.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday, announced that England will make their first visit to Pakistan in 16 years when they will play two T20 internationals in Karachi.
As per the press-release issued by PCB, England will arrive in Karachi on 12 October, and both the sides will depart for India on 16 October for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the end of the series.
England Cricket Team will play two Twenty20 internationals in Karachi on 14th and 15th October 2021.
The development comes as earlier, PCB had invited England Cricket Team to visit Pakistan on a short tour in January 2021.
However, ECB citing non-availability of their top players suggested a short tour in October instead.
Expressing his views on the development, Wasim Khan – Chief Executive PCB, said that the tour will open the door for both Test and white-ball tours in the 2022-23 season.
The enhanced progress made over the last two years has been down to nurturing relationships with various cricket boards and international players, as well as building trust and confidence. The ECB’s confirmation further endorses Pakistan as safe and secure. Importantly, this announcement speaks volumes for the relationship that we have with the ECB and I would like to thank the ECB for their strong will and desire to make this short tour a reality, he added,
ECB too had confirmed the England’s tour to Pakistan for 2021.
“It’s a real pleasure to announce that the England men’s IT20 squad will be playing in Pakistan in October 2021. This will be the first time since 2005 that an England team has toured Pakistan and as such it represents a significant moment for both nations,” said Tom Harrison – CEO ECB.
As was demonstrated this summer, we have a strong relationship with PCB and ECB is delighted to be able to play our part in ensuring the safe return of international cricket to this wonderful nation of passionate cricket fans, he added.
It is pertinent to know that England last toured Pakistan in 2005 when they played three Tests and five One-Day Internationals (ODIs). The subsequent series between the two sides in 2012 and 2015 were played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).