The three Tests will be played in Dubai from December 31-January 4, in Abu Dhabi from January 8-12 and Sharjah from January 16-20. PHOTO: pcb.com.pk
KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board announced yesterday the national team will play a full series of three Tests, five One-Day Internationals (ODI) and two Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka in the UAE starting in December.
Since an attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009, Pakistan have been forced to play all top-level home international matches at neutral venues with insecurity too great for foreign teams to tour.
Sri Lanka will open the tour with two Twenty20s in Dubai on December 11 and 13 before playing five ODIs between December 18 and 27, two in Sharjah on December 18 and 22; two in Abu Dhabi on December 25 and 27; and one in Dubai on December 20.
The three Tests will be played in Dubai from December 31-January 4, in Abu Dhabi from January 8-12 and Sharjah from January 16-20.
Pakistan is also likely to play a Twenty20 against Afghanistan on December 8, which would be the first between the two teams. Final confirmation of the match is due in a few days.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 3rd, 2013.
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This is excellent news all around, particularly for Pakistan who are seriously short of Test match cricket. This series, is by far, the only predictable and permanent(ish) fixture in the PCB schedule. I suggest, that the PCB and SL Board give this series more value as it helps both Boards. One way could be to name the series as a Mendis-Miandad trophy (or any other icons' names that the boards want to celebrate) on the same lines as Frank Worrell and Border-Gavaskar. Second, they should consider playing 4 or 5 tests to make it more competitive, given that the two sides are both very good Test nations. The frequency with which these two teams play, the camaraderie and good relations between the players and the boards, this series can be a great spectacle for cricket across the world!