Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan will play five one-day internationals and a lone T20I against England in England before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. According to the schedule announced by England and Wales Cricket Board on Thursday, Pakistan will be England’s first opponents of the home international season next year with the tour featuring five ODIs and a T20I, as both countries prepare for the World Cup which starts on May 30, 2019.

Pakistan will start the England tour with a Twenty20 international on May 5, 2019, which will be played at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. The T20I will be followed by five one-dayers to be played between May 8 to 19. The opening match of the ODI series will be played on May 8 at The Oval, followed by the second ODI at Ageas Bowl, Southampton on May 11, third ODI at Bristol on May 14, fourth ODI at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on May 17, and the final ODI at Headingly, Leeds on May 19. The series will provide Pakistan team an opportunity to gel in with conditions in United Kingdom ahead of the World Cup.

Schedule:

May 5: Only Twenty20 v Pakistan, Cardiff

May 8: First ODI v Pakistan, the Oval

May 11: Second ODI v Pakistan, Southampton

May 14: Third ODI v Pakistan, Bristol

May 17: Fourth ODI v Pakistan, Trent Bridge

May 19: Fifth ODI v Pakistan, Headingley

Published in Daily Times, July 20^th 2018.