PCB announces revised itinerary of Australia tour to Pakistan, Rawalpindi to host opening Test instead of Karachi
Pakistan (Image source: Twitter)
The schedule for Australia’s tour against Pakistan has been revised. The series will now start on March 4 instead of March 3, while a shift of venues has also been decided. Australia is set to tour Pakistan for a complete cricketing series consisting of three Test matches, three ODI matches and a T20I match.
Australia last toured in 1998, making the upcoming one a historic tour in many ways. The revised schedule was confirmed following Cricket Australia’s meeting of directors on Friday.
The first Test, which was initially set to start in Karachi on March 3, will now start on March 4 in Rawalpindi, while the second and third Tests will be played in Karachi and Lahore, respectively. The Tests will be followed by the limited-over leg, which was initially set to be hosted in Lahore, but will now be played in Rawalpindi.
CA chief executive, Nick Hockley, was quoted by cricket.com.au saying, “I would like to thank the PCB and both the Pakistan and Australian Governments for ensuring the tour will proceed for the first time in 24 years,” said chief executive Nick Hockley.
“This is a historic occasion and important for the global growth and health of the game.
“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.
“We are looking forward to an exciting series between two world-class teams.”
In 1998, a significantly superior Australian team beat Pakistan 1-0 in the three-match Test series. Mark Taylor was the Australian captain and Aamer Sohail was the Pakistani captain.
The last time these two teams met each other in a bilateral series was in 2019 in Australia, who won the three-match T20 series 2-0 and also the two-match Test series 2-0. Pakistan will have the home advantage this time around.
Here is the complete revised schedule for Australia’s tour of Pakistan:
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
