New Zealand set to tour Pakistan for first time since 2003

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday (August 5) announced that New Zealand will visit its shores for a white-ball series, comprising of three One-Day Internationals (ODI) and five T20 Internationals (T20I), starting September 17.

This will be New Zealand's first visit to Pakistan since 2003.

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

The ODI series will be a part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League and will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. The T20Is, on the other hand, will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium from September 25. New Zealand will also return to Pakistan next year to play a Test series, which will be part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle 2021-23. 

“Series against a top-ranked side like New Zealand will be a perfect start to a mouth-watering and highly-exciting home season of red and white-ball cricket. 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," PCB chief executive Wasim Khan said.

Initially set to be a three-match T20I series, New Zealand Cricket accepted the offer to add two more to the itinerary as it would help both sides in preparation for the T20 World Cup

“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," Wasim added.

With the series set to clash with the second half of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is set to begin on September 19, it is still unclear if all the New Zealand players, including skipper Kane Williamson, fast bowler Trent Bout and others will be available for the cash-rich league.

The Blackcaps arrive in Pakistan on September 11 and will leave the country from Lahore after playing the fifth and final T20I on October 3.

After New Zealand, England Men and Women are expected to visit Pakistan for limited-overs fixtures and West Indies are also expected to visit in December in December. Australia are also expected to tour Pakistan in February/March 2022.