The Pakistan Cricket team will arrive in England at least five weeks before it formally kicks off their campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, According to a spokesman for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday, Pakistan are also scheduled to play at least 11 full-fledged games before their first match in the World Cup against West Indies. These matches include seven 50-overs and two 20-over games. “Pakistan cricket team will depart for England on 23 April where they will play England in a series of practice and international matches, before entering the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 against the Windies on 31 May at Trent Bridge,” said the spokesman of PCB. After arriving in the UK on April 23, Pakistan will play two 50-over games against Kent and Northamptonshire on April 27th and 29th, respectively before playing a T20 game against Leicestershire on May 1st. Following three games against the county teams, Pakistan will play one T20I and five ODIs against England which will kick-off with the shortest format match at Cardiff. The five ODIs will be played May 8, 11, 14, 17, and 19. Pakistan are also scheduled to play two official warm-up games ahead of ICC World Cup, against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, on May24 and 26. The former champions will kick-off their World Cup campaign with the match against West Indies on May 31 at Trent Bridge.
The final squad for the England tour and ICC World Cup will be announced after consultation between team’s head coach Mickey Arthur and the selection panel and fitness tests of the players. “The Pakistan coach will now consult the selection committee and discuss the schedule of the player fitness tests, training camp and squad announcement for the ICC Cricket World Cup,” the PCB official said. “As per the ICC regulations, all participating sides have to submit their 15-player World Cup squads by April 30 but can make changes until May 22 without needing the ICC’s approval. Post May 23, all player replacements will have to be approved by the Event Technical Committee,” it added.
Pakistan cricket team’s schedule of England:
Series v England
23 April – Departure for England
27 April – v Kent (50-over practice match) (d)
29 April – v Northamptonshire (50-over match) (d)
1 May – v Leicestershire (T20 match) (d/n)
5 May – v England (only T20I), Cardiff (d)
8 May – 1st ODI v England, The Oval (d)
11 May – 2nd ODI v England, Hampshire (d)
14 May – 3rd ODI v England, Bristol (d)
17 May – 4th ODI v England, Trent Bridge (d)
19 May – 5th ODI v England, Leeds (d)
ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 schedule:
24 May – v Afghanistan (warm-up), Bristol (d)
26 May – v Bangladesh (warm-up), Cardiff (d)
31 May – v Windies, Trent Bridge (d)
3 June – v England, Trent Bridge (d)
7 June – v Sri Lanka, Bristol (d)
12 June – v Australia, Taunton (d)
16 June – v India, Old Trafford (d)
23 June – v South Africa, Lord’s (d)
26 June – v New Zealand, Edgbaston (d)
29 June – v Afghanistan, Headingley (d)
5 July – v Bangladesh, Lord’s (d/n).