Pakistan Tour of England: Dates announced for Pakistan tour, confirms ECB

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) earlier today announced the dates for the Pakistan tour of England 2020. It is slated to kick-off on August 5, with three Tests to be played, followed by as many T20Is.

Pakistan will start their Test series at Old Trafford with the second and third Test scheduled to start on August 13 and 21 respectively and will be played in Southampton. The series will be followed by three T20Is at Old Trafford scheduled for August 28, 30 and September 1.

However, prior to the Tests, England will play three ODIs against Ireland on July 30, August 1, and 4 respectively in Southampton.

The Pakistan team have already arrived in England on June 28 and are undergoing 14 days of quarantine. They are in Worcester but will move to Derbyshire on July 13 to start their preparation for the first Test. Also, a second team of six Pakistan players have travelled to UK, after initial trouble with Covid-19 results.

“Confirmation of these matches against Ireland and Pakistan is another important step for our game as we begin to safely stage international cricket again, but also to minimise the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had and will continue to have, on cricket at all levels,” ECB Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison, said.

He also added, ”We owe a significant debt of gratitude to the players, staff and administrators of the Cricket West Indies, Cricket Ireland, and the Pakistan Cricket Board for their willingness and co-operation to get international cricket back up and running and allow these matches to be staged.”

ECB, in the interim, continues to proceed talks with Cricket Australia (CA) to reschedule their limited-overs series at some stage during the summer. The tri-series between England Women, India and South Africa is also expected to be rescheduled.