Top teams set to tour Pakistan as PCB announces bumper schedule for 2024-25 season

By: Geo Sports Posted On: July 05, 2024 View: 71

Spectators cheer during Pakistan vs West Indies 1st T20I at the National Stadium Karachi. —APP/File

New Zealand, South Africa to participate in an ODI tri-series.
Men's team will tour Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Season will culminate with ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final.

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket fans will find enough cricket this year at home ground to quench their thirst as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Friday announced details of men’s 2024-25 home international cricket season.

The cricket board said the national team will compete in three Test series on home soil and participate in the first ODI tri-series in 21 years in the lead up to the eight-team ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on the home turf.

In the curtain-raiser series of the 2024-25 home international season, Bangladesh will play two Tests, one in Rawalpindi (August 21-25) and other in Karachi (August 30-September 3).

The international season will culminate with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, proposed for March 9.

Meanwhile, Pakistan will host England for three Tests — in Multan (October 7-11), Karachi (October 15-19) and Rawalpindi (October 24-28). Whereas, the West Indies will visit here for two Tests — in Karachi (January 16-20) and Multan (January 24-28).

Additionally, New Zealand and South Africa will participate in an ODI tri-series in Multan from February 8 to 14.

Bangladesh last played a Test in Pakistan in February 2020, while England swept the three-Test series in December 2022. The 2025 series will also mark the West Indies’ first Test tour to Pakistan since November 2006 when Brian Lara captained the side against Inzamam-ul-Haq’s men. Pakistan last hosted the West Indies for a Test series in October 2016 in the United Arab Emirates.

Apart from the home international fixtures, the men's team will tour Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa from November 4 to January 7, playing two Tests, nine ODIs and nine T20Is.

In the period from August 2024 to March 2025, the Pakistan men's cricket team will play nine Tests, nine T20Is and, at least, 14 ODIs. The number of ODIs may increase based on their performance in the ODI tri-series and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Alongside international cricket, the PCB will be involved in planning and delivering an expanded and more competitive PCB Domestic Cricket Season 2024-25, as well as women's domestic and international cricket events and competitions. The HBL Pakistan Super League 2025 is also being planned for April/May 2025.

The nine Tests against Bangladesh, England, South Africa and the West Indies will be part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. To date, Pakistan has played five Tests in two series against Sri Lanka and Australia, winning two and losing three. This has placed them in fifth position on the points table with 22 points. India leads the table with 74 points after three series, followed by Australia (90 points from four series), New Zealand (36 points from three series), and Sri Lanka (24 points from two series).

With each of the top nine Test-playing nations scheduled to play six series (three home and three away) in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, strong performances in the upcoming four series could put Pakistan in contention for a place in the final, scheduled for Lord's in June 2025.

Karachi, Multan and Rawalpindi will share the seven Tests and four ODIs between them. Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium is currently undergoing redesign and redevelopment work as part of preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, but is expected to be ready to stage most of the high-profile matches from February 19 to March 9. The ICC will announce further details of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in due course.

Pakistan 'deeply values' visiting teams' participation

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said it was critically important for the board to finalise, lock and announce 2024-25 home international cricket season.

“This ensures that both the men's cricket team managements and the PCB event staff have sufficient time to prepare, plan and deliver these series to our very high expectations and standards, showcasing Pakistan as an outstanding cricket nation and the PCB as a thoroughly professional organisation,” he said.

He said Pakistan deeply valued the participation of the visiting teams and players, who would bring immense talent and competitive spirit to our fields.

Bangladesh Cricket Board Chief Executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury thanked the PCB for confirming the schedule for Bangladesh's tour of Pakistan for the ICC World Test Championship matches.

“The series presents a significant test for us, but it is also a chance to showcase our progress in this format.”

Bangladesh men’s cricket team captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said they were looking forward to returning to Pakistan for the ICC World Test Championship.

“Playing in Pakistan is always a challenging but an exciting prospect, and we will have to be at our very best to compete against a formidable home side in their backyard.”

England excited to return to Pakistan: board chief

England and Wales Cricket Board Chief Executive Richard Gould said England were really excited to be returning to Pakistan for this three-match men’s Test tour in October.

“Our last men’s Test tour of Pakistan produced some memorable matches and I’m sure fans can look forward to more exciting cricket across this forthcoming series.”

Cricket West Indies Chief Executive Johnny Grave said they were pleased to be visiting Pakistan next January for the final Test Series in the current cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.

“Whilst we have toured Pakistan many times in recent years, it will have been almost two decades since we last played Test cricket there. The 2006 series also had Tests in both Karachi and Multan, and we look forward to returning for a competitive series against another proud Test cricketing nation.”

Schedule of Pakistan’s home international matches in 2024-25:

Bangladesh in Pakistan (Two Tests)

21-25 Aug – First Test, Rawalpindi

30 Aug-3 Sep – Second Test, Karachi

England in Pakistan (Three Tests)

7-11 Oct – First Test, Multan

15-19 Oct – Second Test, Karachi

24-28 Oct – Third Test, Rawalpindi

West Indies in Pakistan (Two Tests)

16-20 Jan – First Test, Karachi

24-28 Jan – Second Test, Multan

New Zealand and South Africa in Pakistan (ODI tri-series)

8 Feb – Pakistan v New Zealand, Multan

10 Feb – New Zealand v South Africa, Multan

12 Feb – Pakistan v South Africa, Multan

14 Feb – Final, Multan

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 (Schedule to be announced by the ICC; participating teams are: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa)

19 Feb-Opening match

9 Mar – Final