After the gap of 17 years in Rawalpindi, Cricket team of England will be playing their first Test match in Pakistan, starting from December 1, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stated in a statement.
For the second Test both the teams will move to Multan (December 9-13). Karachi will host the third Test from December 17.
This tour of Pakistan will be England’s second half, from 20 September to 2 October, following seven Twenty20 Internationals in Karachi and Lahore.
Surprisingly, it will be the first time of history that England will play a Test in Rawalpindi.
Zakir Khan,PCB’s director of international cricket. said in a statement. “We are pleased that Pakistan and England Test rivalry, which has historically produced close and tight matches, will return to our backyards in December. Both the sides have evolved since they last played in Pakistan in 2005 and have recently been playing entertaining and exciting cricket. I remain confident this series will live up to the expectations of the global cricket fans who want to watch and enjoy competitive and thrilling matches,”
ECB interim chief executive officer, Clare Connor, stated: “The return of our men’s Test team to Pakistan for the first time since 2005 will be an historic occasion. The opportunity to play Test cricket in front of passionate cricket-lovers in Pakistan after such a long time is something to be cherished.”
“We have been working closely with the PCB over recent months and I am grateful to them for everything they have done, and continue to do, to make our Test and T20 tours a mouth-watering prospect for all involved.”
