The series will mark Australia’s return to Pakistan for the first time since 1998
Australian cricket team will tour Pakistan for a full series in March 2022, Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Monday.
“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,” PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja said in a statement.
“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,” the cricketer turned commentator added.
He further said that it will be a great opportunity for the Australian cricketers to play on Pakistan pitches and enjoy the love, respect and hospitality of Pakistani crowds, “something which most of their previous generation of cricketers missed out by playing offshore.”
A huge boost for Pakistan Cricket
Cricket Australia’s confirmation for the tour is a huge boost for Pakistan cricket as it comes at a time when Pakistan is coping with tour cancellations by New Zealand and England. Both teams canceled their tours in September citing security concerns.
Tour Details
The Aussies are scheduled to play three Tests, three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and a one-off T20I. Test matches will be hosted by Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore, one Test each. The limited-overs leg of the tour will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.
The Test series will start in Karachi on March 3 and will be played as part of the ICC World Test Championship, while the 5-ODI series starting March 29 will be linked to the ICC men’s Cricket World Cup Super League. The Super League is a 13-team event from which the top seven teams and the hosts, India, will qualify directly for the 2023 Cricket World Cup, to be held in India in October-November 2023.
Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022
March 3-7: First Test, Karachi
March 12-16: Second Test, Rawalpindi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Lahore
March 31: Second ODI, Lahore
April 2: Third ODI, Lahore
April 5: Only T20, Lahore
Cricket Australia delegation to visit Pakistan ahead of series
A Cricket Australia delegation is expected to visit Pakistan to meet with PCB officials as well as the government authorities to finalize matters related to team operations, logistics, security, and Covid-19 protocols.
“We will work over the next three months, we’re going to be doing an [reconnaissance] over to Pakistan,” CA chairman Nick Hockley told AAP. “We will be working with all the relevant agencies to do our due diligence to make sure security programs are in place,” he added.
Australia last toured Pakistan in 1998-99, when visitors won the series 1-0. Since then Pakistan hosted the Kangaroos overseas. The most recent series was held in 2018, which the Green Shirts won 1-0.