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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the schedule of the upcoming series against New Zealand as they visit the country for the first time in 18 years.
New Zealand will play three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League ODIs and five Twenty20 Internationals on the tour. The matches will be played at Pindi Cricket Stadium on 17, 19 and 21 September ODIs, while the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will stage the five T20Is from 25 September to 3 October.
While the Rawalpindi ODIs will count towards the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification, the third position on the ICC T20I team rankings will be up for grabs in Lahore. New Zealand will return to Pakistan next year to play Test matches.
New Zealand will be the first side to visit Pakistan in what will be a bumper 2021-22 season for the local cricket fans and supporters. Following New Zealand’s tour, England’s men and women sides will play white-ball matches in Pakistan.
The West Indies are expected to arrive in Karachi in December for three ODIs and three T20Is. Australia is scheduled to undertake a full tour in February/March 2022.
PCB confirms schedule of New Zealand’s first tour of Pakistan in 18 years.#PAKvNZ | #HarHaalMainCricket pic.twitter.com/dPlThiKuGT
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 5, 2021
PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said the series against a top-ranked side like New Zealand will be a perfect start to highly exciting home season of cricket.
“I am pleased New Zealand Cricket has accepted our offer to play two additional Twenty20 Internationals. These will not only provide extra games to both the countries as part of their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup preparations, but will also allow New Zealand players to spend extra days in Pakistan, familiarise with our culture and enjoy our hospitality,” he said.
He said the 2019 World Cup finalists, who are also the World Test champions and ranked third in T20Is, will draw tremendous attraction and interest from the local fans, and will reinforce Pakistan’s status as a safe and secure country.
NZC Chief Executive David White said they are looking forward to returning to Pakistan for the start of their home international season.
“New Zealand was the first country outside India to tour Pakistan and we share a close relationship with the PCB. It’s great that, after such a difficult time for Pakistan, international cricket is again being played in the country.”
New Zealand last toured Pakistan in November 2003 when they played five ODIs. A year before, their last Test appearance in Pakistan was at the Gaddafi Stadium in May 2002, which is remembered for Inzamam-ul-Haq’s 329 and Shoaib Akhtar’s six for 11 in the first innings that set the platform for an innings and 324-run victory.
Since the 2003 ODI series, Pakistan have thrice hosted New Zealand for ODIs in the United Arab Emirates with the Black Caps winning the 2009-10 and 2014-15 series )2-1 and 3-2, respectively) and drawing the 2018-19 series 1-1.
Pakistan won the 2009-10 and 2018-19 T20I series by 2-0 and 3-0, respectively, while the 2014-15 series was tied at 1-1. New Zealand drew the 2014-15 Test series 1-1 and won the 2018-19 series by 2-1.
