By: SYED WAZIR ALI QADRI
Karachi: Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed its men’s national cricket team’s tour to the West Indies, which will take place from 21 July to 24 August and comprise 2 Tests and 5 T20 Internationals.
The tour, which will take place following the conclusion of the ODI and T20I series in England, will commence with back-to-back T20Is in Barbados on 27 and 28 July, before action will move to Guyana for the 31 July and 1 August back-to-back T20Is, and series finale on 3 August.
After a 2 days practice match on 6-7 August in Guyana, the side will move to Jamaica where the 2 Tests will be held at Sabina Park from 12-16 August and 20-24 August. PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan:
“The tour to the West Indies is always a valued and prized tour for the Pakistan cricket teams. The Caribbean cricket history, backed up by the excellent playing facilities, supporting crowds and great ambiance, encourages and motivates the players to produce their very best. “In consultation with the Cricket West Indies and keeping an eye on this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, we have agreed to replace one Test match with 2 additional T20Is.
This is aimed at providing further T20 content for both teams, as we continue to prepare and build-up to the global ICC event. “The series in the West Indies is part of a gruelling but exciting and entertaining season of cricket for Pakistan. In addition to playing England, Afghanistan,
Bangladesh and the T20 World Cup and the away series, we will be hosting New Zealand, England, West Indies and Australia in the next 8 months. This makes every series important and critical for our side as we aspire to feature in the top three across all formats by 2023.” On their last tour to the Caribbean in 2017, Pakistan won their maiden Test series 2-1. This provided a perfect farewell to Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, who played 276 and 408 international matches, respectively, during their illustrious careers. Both will return to the Caribbean in coaching roles with Misbah as head coach and Younis as batting coach. Overall, this will be ninth Test series between the 2 sides in the Caribbean since 1957-58 with the 6th ranked home side leading the 5rh ranked visitors by 4-1.
At Sabina Park alone, both the sides are tied at 2-all with the West Indies winning the 1957- 58 and 1976-77 Tests by an innings and 174 runs and 140 runs, respectively. However, Pakistan won the last 2 Tests in 2004-05 and 2016 by 136 runs and 7 wickets, respectively.
On a head-to-head in T20Is series in the West Indies, Pakistan lead the T20 world champions by 2-1. West Indies won the one-off match at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in 2010-11, before Pakistan won the 2013-14 and 2016-17 by 2-0 and 3-1 respectively.
Tour itinerary:
21 Jul – Arrival in Barbados
27 Jul – 1st T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados
28 Jul – 2nd T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados
31 Jul – 3rd T20I, Guyana National Stadium, Guyana
1 Aug – 4th T20I, Guyana National Stadium, Guyana
3 Aug – 5th T20I, Guyana National Stadium, Guyana
6-7 Aug – 2 days practice match, Guyana
12-16 Aug – 1st Test, Sabina Park, Jamaica
20-24 Aug – 2nd Test, Sabina Park, Jamaica
25 Aug – Departure
