The Pakistan Cricket team will arrive in England at least five weeks before it formally kicks off its campaign in ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, this was revealed by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday.
According to PCB, Pakistan is also scheduled to play at least 11 full-fledged games before its first match in the World Cup against West Indies. These matches include 7 50-overs and two 20 over games.
“The 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 23rd, Pakistan will play two 50-over games against Kent and Northamptonshire on 27th and 29th April, respectively before playing a T20 game against Leicestershire on May 1st. Following three games against the county teams, Pakistan will play one T20I and 5 ODIs against England which will kick-off with the shortest format match at Cardiff. The five ODIs will be played 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, and 19th May. Pakistan is also scheduled to play two official warm-up games ahead of ICC World Cup, against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, on 24th and 26th May.
The former champions will kick-off its World Cup campaign with the match against West Indies on 31st May at Trent Bridge. According to PCB, 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 said. “As per the ICC regulations, all participating sides have to submit their 15-player World Cup squads by 30 April but can make changes until 22 May without needing the ICC’s approval. Post 23 May, all player replacements will have to be approved by the Event Technical Committee,” it added.
