ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the West Indies have decided to postpone their three-match T20I series due to take place in January 2023 to the first quarter of 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Wednesday. 

In a statement, the PCB confirmed it had taken the decision in consultation with Cricket West Indies so that both sides can prepare for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024. 

“The decision has been made considering 2024 is an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup year, with the event due to be hosted in the West Indies and USA in June 2024, and the shortest format matches will, therefore, help both the sides to prepare for the tournament,” the PCB stated. 

The decision is also likely to free up players from both countries to partake in various cricket leagues around the world. The International League T20 (ILT20) in the UAE, the SA20 in South Africa, the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia and the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) are all taking place in January 2023.

The three-match T20I series in January 2023 is not part of the recently announced 2023-2027 ICC Future Tours Programme— the international cricket calendar for permanent ICC members. 

The West Indies have visited Pakistan twice over the past 10 months. They played their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League matches against Pakistan in Multan in May 2022, while the December 2021 series comprised three T20Is in Karachi.

Pakistan are busy preparing for their high-octane T20 clash against India for the ICC T20 World Cup 2023. The two sides will square off at the huge Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23.