KARACHI: Pakistan on Thursday confirmed the West Indies cricket team will tour the South Asian nation next month as international play resumes there following cancellations by New Zealand and England over safety and player welfare concerns.
New Zealand abandoned a tour last month minutes before the start of their first one-day international in Rawalpindi, citing a security alert.
A week later, England withdrew their men's and women's teams from Pakistan declaring the tour could affect the players' mental and physical health under COVID-19 restrictions.
But the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Thursday the West Indies have agreed to tour for three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches.
"PCB confirms West Indies will play three Twenty20 Internationals and as many Men's Cricket World Cup Super League matches at the National Stadium in Karachi from 13-22 December," a release from the board said.
It will be the West Indies' first tour of Pakistan since April 2018 when they played three T20 internationals.
The two-time 50-over world champions will be playing ODIs in Pakistan for the first time since December 2006.
A delighted PCB chairman Ramiz Raja said he hoped the series would open the way for a tour by Australia, who have not visited Pakistan since 1998 due to security threats.
"After missing out on home internationals in September and October, the West Indies tour will formally kick off an exciting and entertaining season in Pakistan with Pakistan Super League 2022 and Australia's first full series to follow," Raja is quoted as saying in the release.
Raja added that he hoped the government would allow the maximum crowds as COVID-19 restrictions were being relaxed.
The West Indies will arrive on December 9 and play all the matches in Karachi, with T20 internationals on December 13, 14 and 16. The ODIs will be played on December 18, 20 and 22.
Pakistan Cricket Board confirms West Indies to tour in December
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Pakistan Cricket Board confirms West Indies to tour in December
- It will be the West Indies' first tour of Pakistan since April 2018 when they played three T20 internationals
- The visiting team will arrive on December 9 and play all the matches in Karachi
India captain says will travel for Pakistan clash despite boycott
- Pakistan have announced they will boycott their match against India on Feb. 15 in Sri Lanka
- India need to be at the stadium on Feb. 15 to ensure they are awarded two points for match
MUMBAI: India captain Suryakumar Yadav said Thursday that his team would show up in Colombo for their T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan, despite their Group A opponents and arch-rivals boycotting the match.
“We haven’t said no to playing them (Pakistan),” Yadav told reporters at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium, where India will begin their campaign against the United States on Saturday’s opening day.
“They are the ones who have said no. Our flights are booked and we are going to Colombo.”
India need to be at the stadium and ready to take the field for the February 15 match in order to make sure of being awarded the two points for a match forfeit.
The tournament, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, has been overshadowed by weeks of political posturing in the build-up.
Bangladesh were kicked out for refusing to play in India and Pakistan’s government then told its team not to show up at the clash of the arch-rivals as a show of support for Bangladesh.
Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade, and meet only in global or regional tournaments events.
India start the T20 World Cup on home soil with a great chance of retaining the title they won two years ago and Yadav agreed they were the side to beat.
“The way we have been playing, it looks like we are the favorites,” he smiled.
If that seemed like an overconfident statement, the India captain was quick to caution: “There are 19 (other) good teams in the tournament, though.
“On a given day, when you play, you have to bring your A-game and play good cricket.”
India know that their opening opponents, the United States, caused the biggest upset of the 2024 tournament when they beat Pakistan in a super over.
Yadav said no team would be taken lightly.
“I’m sure every game will be very important,” he said.
