Australia to tour Pakistan for first time in 24 years

LAHORE, Pakistan - Australia will tour Pakistan for the first time in 24 years in March-April, the Pakistan Cricket Board
said on Monday, despite England and New Zealand recently pulling out of matches there.

Australia will play three Tests, as many one-day internationals and a
single Twenty20 international.

   "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," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja said in a
statement.

   The tour will be a huge boost for Pakistan, which was hit hard when New
Zealand abandoned its tour over a security alert just as the two teams were
due to kick off their first match in September.

   England pulled out a week later and there had been fears Australia would
do the same.

   "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," said Cricket Australia
chief executive Nick Hockley, according to the PCB statement.

   "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."

   Pakistan had gradually returned to the cricket map as hosts of
international matches following a six-year hiatus in the wake of attacks on
the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009.

   During their cricketing isolation, Pakistan were forced to play their home
matches on neutral venues, including in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

   Cricket Australia's delegation will visit Pakistan to meet with PCB
officials and Pakistani authorities to discuss and finalise matters relating
to team operations, logistics, security and Covid-19 protocols.

   The first Test will be held in Karachi, while Rawalpindi will host the
second and Lahore the third.

   All white-ball matches will be held in Lahore.

   The Tests will be played as part of the ICC World Test Championship. The
ODIs will be connected to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League -- a
13-team event from which the seven highest-placed sides and the hosts, India,
will qualify directly for the event in 2023.

   The last time Australia toured Pakistan, Mark Taylor led them to a 1-0
series victory.

Pakistan staged the last four series with Australia offshore in Sri Lanka, England and the UAE. BSS/AFP