MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia’s board formally endorsed the men’s team’s first tour of Pakistan since 1988, ending a 24-year drought that will see the Baggy Greens play three Tests, three one day internationals and a T20I, capping the month-long tour on April 5.
“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,” said Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley.
The tour will be a huge boost for Pakistan, which was hit hard when New Zealand and England abandoned recent tours citing security concerns.
“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,” added Hockley.
“We are looking forward to an exciting series between two world-class teams.”
In India, the matches will be broadcast by Sony Sports Network, which currently holds the media rights for international cricket played in the strife-torn nation.
It was in January 2021 that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) signed a three-year deal with Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) to show all of Pakistan’s home international games and also the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the Indian territory.
Revised Pakistan tour dates:
March 4-8: 1st Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: 2nd Test, Karachi
March 21-25: 3rd Test, Lahore
March 29: 1st ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
Venues for the first and second Tests of the historic campaign have been swapped, with Rawalpindi to now host the first Test (from March 3), Karachi the second (March 12), before the series finale in Lahore (March 21).
