Pakistan to play four Tests in England next year

Pakistan are scheduled to play four Tests and a triangular one-day series (also involving Sri Lanka) when they tour England next year. Pakistan last played a series of more than three Tests in 1992, which was incidentally against England, under the captaincy of Javed Miandad.

They will also play a Twenty20 international against England on the long tour, according to a report in The News. The itinerary includes as many as eight side-matches against different counties. England will play seven Tests against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, a triangular one-day series and two Twenty20 Internationals.

A Pakistan board official is also quoted as saying that Pakistan were keen to play five Tests, but since the itinerary was already fixed under the ICC's Future Tours Programme (FTP), they would play four. Pakistan have a break at the moment, and then return to the action with a bang in October, with a home series against England from October 22, followed by an Indian tour in January and the Asia Cup in February. Before heading to England in May, Pakistan tour Sri Lanka for three Tests and three one-day internationals.

The official said that Pakistan had asked the ICC to clear the dates for the Asia Cup as it was not included in the FTP cycle, and the final schedule is expected to be decided at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in London later this month. Pakistan will be hosting the Asia Cup for the first time since the tournament was conceived in 1984. India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE and Oman have confirmed their participation.