Lahore and Karachi set to host T20Is against England: PCB sources

The England men's cricket team are scheduled to tour Pakistan ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia, which commences on October 16.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will likely announce Lahore and Karachi as two venues for the upcoming seven-T20I series against the Three Lions, which will be played in September.

Rawalpindi will be kept as a back-up venue for the series. The board wanted to play matches across other stadiums like Multan and Faisalabad, but they have now discarded the plan.

As per reports from Sports.NDTV, an unnamed official, said, "Karachi and Lahore are the two main venues for the series, and Rawalpindi has been added as a back-up as well. But with England coming to Pakistan after 17 long years, the conclusion is that there will be big crowds even in Karachi and Lahore for the matches."

PCB, however, hopes that smaller venues get a chance to host England during the second leg of the tour, which will see both sides play red-ball cricket after the completion of the T20 WC. The second half of the tour will comprise a three-Test series in November.

"During the available time the smaller venues will be prepared for the test matches," the source added.

A tentative itinerary for the tour has been sent to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) by the PCB. English representatives are due to visit Pakistan in July/August.

The PCB recently approved the proposed T20I triangular series involving hosts New Zealand and Bangladesh, which will help them prepare for the marquee 20-overs event Down Under.

PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja said: "Before the 1992 World Cup, the side had arrived in Australia a month ago and we had ample opportunity to prepare for matches by playing against the local teams.

"I was behind PCB's international department to somehow find a way that our team could play six to seven games before the World Cup. The pitches in New Zealand also have bounce and pace, the side will benefit from playing matches there."