Australia Tour Of Pakistan: The Australian cricket team is ready to tour Pakistan after a long gap of 24 years. She will play a series of two Tests, 3 ODIs and 3 T20 matches.
Cricket Australia (CA) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday confirmed that the Australia team's tour of Pakistan will begin with the Rawalpindi Test on March 4. Australia is visiting Pakistan for the first time since 1998. After the first Test in Rawalpindi, the next two Tests will be played in Karachi and Lahore. This will be followed by three ODIs and one T20 International to be played in Rawalpindi from March 29 to April 5.
The schedule has been modified to reduce military and operational challenges as well as to avoid rehearsals for Pakistan Day, which usually begins in Islamabad on the second day.
CA chief Nick Hockley said, 'I want to thank both the Pakistan and Australian governments for ensuring that this tour goes ahead for the first time in 24 years. This is a historic occasion and important for the global development and health of the sport. I would like to thank the Australian Cricketers' Association, players, coaches, support teams, staff and security experts for their cooperation in planning the tour. We are looking forward to an exciting series between two world class teams.
Both the cricket boards have also agreed that the Australia Test team will complete its quarantine in Australia before reaching Islamabad by chartered flight on February 27. Thereafter, they will conduct training sessions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. Australian white-ball players are expected to reach Lahore on March 24 after being in quarantine in Australia. After a day's quarantine upon arrival, he will meet with other players and travel to Islamabad for the first ODI in Rawalpindi on March 29.