Australia set to tour Pakistan after 24 years

Tour is scheduled to begin in March 2022

Saeed Anwar playing a shot during Australia's tour of Pakistan in 1998

The year is 1998. Ricky Ponting and Michael Bevan are batting brilliantly as Australia are cruising towards victory at the famous Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Gaddafi’s crowd is cheering and appreciating the visiting team as they have completely outplayed the home side in both Tests and ODIs. No one in the stadium and the millions watching from their homes would have thought that it would take another 24 years to see the men in yellow playing in Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

International cricket has long been suspended in this cricket-loving country for a very long time due to an unfortunate event in 2009. Team Pakistan has been playing its home matches in UAE away from its home crowd. But this is going to change very soon as Pakistan Cricket Board today announced the details of Australia’s first tour of Pakistan since 1998, which will take place in March and April 2022. The Australian team will be playing three Tests, three ODIs, and one T20I.

The matches are spread out at 3 different venues. The Tests will be held in Karachi (3-7 March), Rawalpindi (12-16 March), and Lahore (21-25 March), with the four white-ball matches taking place in Lahore from March 29 to April 5.

On the occasion, Ramiz Raja said that he was delighted to welcome Australia to Pakistan. “From a personal point of view, it pleases me to no end that we’ll be engaged in a three-Test match series, connoisseurs delight,” Raja was quoted as saying in a Cricket Australia release.

Earlier, Ramiz in his inaugural press conference after taking the reins of PCB said that the team needed to perform on the highest level and outshine any opposition on the big stage so that all the teams were tempted to play us in our backyards. The recent performances of Pakistan in the T20 World Cup may have played a role in Australia’s decision to tour Pakistan.

“It will be a great opportunity for the Australian cricketers to not only play at our iconic venues but also feel and enjoy the respect, love, and hospitality that this great country offers, something which most of their previous generation of cricketers missed out by playing offshore,” said the chairman PCB.

Ramiz was full of praises for the team in yellow. “Australia are one of the high-performing sides and them playing in our backyard for the first time after a gap of 24 years will be a special treat for the fans.”

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Nick Hockley said that Cricket Australia is excited about the prospect of touring Pakistan next year for what will be a highly anticipated series in a country so incredibly passionate about the game and their national team.

Talking about the team Pakistan Nick Hockley said, “Pakistan is a formidable opposition with an exceptionally talented team, as evidenced by their dynamic performances in the current ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the UAE.”

Hockley thanked the PCB for their considerable efforts in planning for the tour. “The safety and welfare of our players and staff remains our number one priority, and we will continue to work with the PCB and relevant agencies to ensure that appropriate and sufficient arrangements are put in place for the tour,” Hockley added.

Cricket Australia’s group will visit Pakistan as part of the reconnoitering phase to meet with PCB officials, as well as provincial and federal officials, to discuss and finalise matters pertaining to team operations, logistics, security, and Covid-19 guidelines.

The confirmation from Australia comes particularly at a time when Pakistan has had to deal with recent tour setbacks. Kiwis left ahead of their limited-overs series in September due to a security issue. England did the same, citing “growing fears about travelling to the region” as the reason.