Pakistan to tour New Zealand for two Tests and three T20Is in December


The schedule for Pakistan’s second out of the country tour since the Covid-19 pandemic has been finalised, with their visit to New Zealand over Christmas set to go ahead with practically no deviation from the original FTP. The two teams will play three T20Is and two Tests from December 18 to January 7, with every international played at a different venue. In accordance with Covid-19 protocols mandated by the New Zealand government, the Pakistan squad will enter a two-week quarantine period in Lincoln once they reach New Zealand in the final week of November.

18 Dec – 1st T20I, Eden Park, Auckland

20 Dec – 2nd T20I, Seddon Park, Hamilton

22 Dec – 3rd T20I, McLean Park, Napier

26-30 Dec – 1st Test, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

3-7 Jan – 2nd Test, Hagley Oval, Christchurch

While New Zealand Cricket’s chief executive David White had already confirmed both Pakistan and West Indies would tour the country as up to now deliberate, the schedule for the Pakistan series is only now out. Auckland, Hamilton and Napier will host the three T20Is to be played on December 18, 20 and 22, while Mount Maungunui hosts the Boxing Day Test. The Hagley Oval in Christchurch would be the venue for the second one Test, which begins on January 3rd.

“It’s at all times a pleasure to host the Pakistan cricket team in New Zealand and I realize there will be a large number of interest in the Test and T20 series,” NZC chief executive, David White, said. “Pakistan touring sides have been coming here since 1965 and lots of New Zealanders have grown up watching the likes of Hanif Mohammad, Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and naturally, the great Imran Khan in action. I’m certain the squads coming out here this summer will be in a similar fashion steeped in talent and class and will continue the great legacy that is Pakistan cricket.”

“New Zealand boast some outstanding cricket facilities with supportive and knowledgeable crowds,” PCB director international cricket, Zakir Khan said. “Pakistan have at all times enjoyed touring New Zealand and have performed polite there, and we look forward to similar performances from our side on this tour.”

“New Zealand series will be our penultimate series in the ICC World Test Championship with the final series against South Africa at home following this tour. We remain optimistic and dedicated to finishing on a high in the Championship as it is our endeavour to change into some of the top-performing Test playing nations.”

The fairly low rate of Covid-19 transmission in New Zealand means the bio-secure bubble don’t need to be maintained following the expiry of the quarantine period. Excluding the largest city, Auckland, all of the nation is operating under what are referred to as Level 1 conditions, which effectively intent no restrictions on movement but even so border keep an eye on. At one point, the nation went over 100 days without an officially recorded positive Covid-19 case, and a second wave that saw a couple of hundred further cases has been all but extinguished. By contrast, when the Pakistan side toured England for three Tests and three T20Is over the summer, the bio-secure bubble was once strictly maintained all the way through the tour.

A press release from the PCB revealed the Pakistan Shaheens, effectively the “A” team, would also trip to New Zealand, with details on their departure to be announced in due class lesson.

Pakistan were final in New Zealand for a limited-overs tour in 2018, with the hosts sweeping the ODI series 5-0, while Pakistan triumphed in the T20I leg 2-1 to rise to the No. 1 ranking in that format. The final time the two sides played Test cricket in New Zealand was once in 2016, with New Zealand winning both Test matches.


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