Three-ODI, three-T20 Pakistan-Australia series confirmed

Pakistan and Australia will play three Twenty20s and three ODIs in the UAE in in August and September, it has been confirmed. The matches will begin in the late evening to avoid the worst of the daytime heat.

The ODIs played between August 28 and September 3 will begin at 6pm local time, and end at 1.45am the following morning. The Twenty20s that follow are set to begin at 8pm and end at 11.

The average daytime temperature in the UAE in August-September is 38-40C, while the average nighttime temperature is 26-29C.

There had been much debate over the actual make-up of the series, which is a 'home' series for Pakistan. The Australian Cricketers' Association had expressed its concerns about playing ODIs in such hot weather. This had prompted the series to be changed to a six-match Twenty20 affair, which was approved by the ICC in June.

The PCB had however then approached Cricket Australia during the ICC's annual conference in Kuala Lumpur in the last week of June, putting forward a request to review the composition of the series once again. ESPNcricinfo understands that the series' broadcaster had objected to six Twenty20s for commercial reasons. The Australian board reportedly agreed in principle to the PCB's proposal, but would not sign off on the deal until it had discussed it with its players.

The series was initially scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka but Pakistan were forced to search for an alternate venue after Sri Lanka backed out of hosting it in May. The inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League is to be played in August, and clashed with the dates of the proposed Pakistan-Australia series, prompting Sri Lanka Cricket's decision to withdraw as hosts.