ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will host its first-ever T20 International tri-series from November 17 to 29, featuring Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, the country’s cricket board announced on Sunday.
In a press release, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said the series was designed to provide all three teams with valuable preparation ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled next year in India and Sri Lanka.
The tri-series will begin with Pakistan facing Afghanistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 17 November, marking Afghanistan’s first-ever T20I on Pakistani soil.
On 19 November, Sri Lanka will play Afghanistan at the same venue. The remaining matches, including the final on 29 November, will take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed said the event would not only help teams gear up for the World Cup but also offer fans exciting contests.
“We look forward to hosting Sri Lanka and Afghanistan for Pakistan’s maiden T20I tri-series. This event will not only offer excellent preparation for next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup but also present fans with exciting cricket across venues,” he said.
He added that the PCB’s recent successful hosting of the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier had demonstrated the board’s readiness to stage back-to-back international events at the highest level.
International cricket in Pakistan was largely suspended after the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, forcing the national side to play its home matches at neutral venues, mainly in the United Arab Emirates.
The return of foreign teams began gradually in 2017 with the visit of the ICC World XI for a three-match T20 series.
Earlier this year, Pakistan hosted the ICC Champions Trophy, the first ICC event in the country since 1996. India, however, played its matches in Dubai due to political tensions.
The announcement of the tri-series comes a day after the PCB confirmed that South Africa would tour Pakistan in October and November for a series of Test, One-Day International and T20I matches.
