Cricket Australia (CA) is in reportedly with talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over deciding the venues for the three-Test series during Australia’a tour of Pakistan in March, The Sunday Morning Herald has reported.
Although the three games are scheduled to take place in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore, the Sunday Morning Heral has reported that “negotiations are continuing with the (PCB) about the possibility of playing all three Tests in one venue for health and security reasons.”
Notably, it will be after a long gap of 24 years when the Australian side tour Pakistan as the PCB is trying its best to revive international cricket and host foreign teams in its soil.
While the first Test match is scheduled from March 3 in Karachi, the second Test will be played between March 12 and 16 in Rawalpindi before the two teams clash for one final time in the series between March 21-25 in Lahore.
The report further suggested that as some Aussies were still uneasy about touring Pakistan, they were encouraged after receiving reports of the West Indies successful tour to the country.
“The tour will be made as short as feasibly possible given the bowlers will need to get their workloads up for the Test series, which begins on March 3,” the publication reported.
Meanwhile, Jhye Richardson has been ruled out of the Pakistan tour, and a preliminary squad will be announced in the coming days, it added.
After the Tests, the two sides will square-off in a three-match ODI series, beginning March 29 in Lahore. All the three ODIs have been scheduled to be held in Lahore. The tour will end with a one-off T20I game on April 5, which will also be staged at the same venue.
While the Tests will be played as part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), the ODIs will be connected to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League – a 13-team event from which the seven highest-placed sides and the hosts, India, will qualify directly for the event proper in 2023.
The tour was finalised in November, 2021 following which an elated PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja, who played eight Tests and 18 ODIs against Australia, had said: “I am delighted to welcome Australia to Pakistan. From a personal point of view, it pleases me no end that we’ll be engaged in a three-Test match series, connoisseurs delight. Australia are one of the high-performing sides and them playing in our backyard for the first time after a gap of 24 years will be a special treat for the fans.”
“Likewise, it will be a great opportunity for the Australia cricketers to not only play at our iconic venues but also feel and enjoy the respect, love and hospitality that this great country offers, something which most of their previous generation of cricketers missed out by playing offshore,” he had added.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) Chief Executive Nick Hockley had expressed: “Cricket Australia is excited about the prospect of touring Pakistan next year for what will be a highly anticipated series in a country so incredibly passionate about the game and their national team.”
“Pakistan is a formidable opposition with an exceptionally talented team, as evidenced by their dynamic performances in the current ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the UAE. We thank the PCB for their considerable efforts in planning for the tour and look forward to continuing to work closely over the coming months to finalise the necessary operations, logistics, security and Covid-19 protocols. The safety and welfare of our players and staff remains our number one priority, and we will continue to work with the PCB and relevant agencies to ensure that appropriate and sufficient arrangements are put in place for the tour,” he had added.
Significantly, Australia had last toured Pakistan in 1998-99 when Mark Taylor led the visitors to a 1-0 series victory.
Schedule of Australia Tour of Pakistan:
3-7 Mar – 1st Test, Karachi
12-16 Mar – 2nd Test, Rawalpindi
21-25 Mar – 3rd Test, Lahore
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29 Mar – 1st ODI, Lahore
31 Mar – 2nd ODI, Lahore
2 Apr – 3rd ODI, Lahore
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5 Apr – only T20I, Lahore