Pakistan to tour England for Test series next year

LONDON (AFP): Pakistan will tour England for a two-match Test series in 2018, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed on Tuesday.

England will kick off next year’s summer with two Tests against Pakistan, whom they drew 2-2 in 2016. The first Test will take place from May 24-28, 2018 at Lord’s, and the second from June 1-5 at Emerald Headingley.

Joe Root’s team will then play five ODIs and a T20I against Australia, before going on to play a three-match T20 series followed by a three-match ODI series against India.

The international summer will conclude with a five-match Test series against India beginning at Edgbaston on August 1.

“A five-Test series against India is at the heart of next summer’s international programme,” said ECB Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison. “This is always a much-anticipated contest which attracts a huge following across the globe for the five-day game.

“Test match cricket has a strong, consistent and passionate following across England and Wales and the seven summer Tests, starting with the Pakistan matches, are sure to attract good crowds.

“Alongside these, England’s white-ball contests against India, Australia and Scotland will give a fascinating guide to form ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup, to be staged here in 2019.

“We are pleased to have a very loyal following for all three formats of the game and we expect to attract great crowds across the summer.

The universal on-sale date was a great success for the venues and fans last year and we will repeat that again this year. What also stays the same is that we would urge fans to apply early and plan for a big summer of cricket.”