LAHORE: While the Pakistan Cricket Board works to organize competitive matches for the Pakistan Shaheens, the national men’s and women’s senior teams have a busy calendar in the coming months.
The 19th Asian Games, which will be held in Hangzhou, China in September, are the only competition in which the Pakistan ‘A’ squad is assured to compete. The Shaheens was last seen in action in Sri Lanka, where they played three unofficial One-day Internationals and two four-day games under the command of Saud Shakeel.
“At this time, the participation of the Pakistan Shaheens in the 19th Asian Games is certain, while efforts are underway to add a few extra series for the Shaheens so that players have more opportunity.”
From June 2022 to May 2023, the men’s national team, led by Babar Azam, will play seven Tests, 17 One-Day Internationals, and a minimum of 25 Twenty20 Internationals. Pakistan will return to play after a two-month break when they host the West Indies in a three-match ODI series in June, followed by two Tests and three ODIs in Sri Lanka in July. Pakistan will play three one-day internationals against the Netherlands after their Sri Lanka visit, before returning to the island for the T20 Asia Cup and a seven-match home T20 series against England.
Pakistan will travel to Australia for the ICC T20 World Cup in October. England will return in 2022 for three Tests, just before Pakistan hosts New Zealand. In May-June, the Pakistan women’s team will visit Sri Lanka before heading to Ireland for a tri-nation T20 series against the hosts and Australia.
In the coming months, the Bismah Maroof-led team will compete in the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, T20 Asia Cup, and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. In October-November, they’ll host Ireland for a trip that includes three ODIs and as many T20s.
The press release stated, “This thrilling and back-to-back international cricket will be in addition to the 2022-23 domestic cricket season, which will run concurrently with the international season.”
“From September 2021 to April 2022, the PCB delivered 314 matches in 12 competitions during the 2021-22 season.”
In due order, the details and schedule for the domestic cricket season of 2022-23 will be released.