LAHORE: Pakistan cricket fans will find plenty of cricket to quench their thirst on home soil this year as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced the details of the 2024-25 domestic men’s international cricket season.
In the curtain-raiser series of the 2024–25 home international season, Bangladesh will play two Tests, one in Rawalpindi (21–25 August) and the other in Karachi (30 August–3 September).
The international season will culminate in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, slated for March 9.
West Indies will visit here for two Tests – Karachi (January 16-20) and Multan (January 24-28).
The 2025 series will also mark West Indies’ first Test tour to Pakistan since November 2006, when Brian Lara led the side against Inzamam-ul-Haq’s men. Pakistan last hosted the West Indies for a Test series in October 2016 in the United Arab Emirates.
Apart from the home internationals, the men’s team will tour Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa from November 4 to January 7, where they will play two Tests, nine ODIs and nine T20Is.
Between August 2024 and March 2025, the Pakistan men’s cricket team will play nine Tests, nine T20Is and at least 14 ODIs.
Alongside international cricket, the PCB will be involved in the planning and delivery of an expanded and more competitive PCB domestic cricket season 2024-25, as well as domestic and international women’s cricket events and competitions. HBL Pakistan Super League 2025 is also scheduled for April/May 2025.
This placed them in fifth position in the points table with 22 points. After three series, India lead the table with 74 points, followed by Australia (90 points from four series), New Zealand (36 points from three series) and Sri Lanka (24 points from two series).
With each of the top nine Test-playing nations scheduled for six series (three home and three away) in the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship cycle, strong performances in the upcoming four series could put Pakistan in contention for a place in the final , scheduled for Lord’s in June 2025.
Karachi, Multan and Rawalpindi will share seven Tests and four ODIs between them. The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is currently undergoing redesign and reconstruction in preparation for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, but is expected to be ready to host most of the major matches from 19 February to 9 March. ICC will announce further details of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in due course.
Pakistan “deeply values” the participation of visiting teams
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said it was critical for the board to finalize, lock and announce the 2024-25 domestic international cricket season.
“This ensures that both the management of the men’s cricket team and the PCB event staff have sufficient time to prepare, plan and deliver these series to our very high expectations and standards, representing Pakistan as an outstanding cricketing nation and the PCB as a thoroughly professional organisation, ” he said.
He said that Pakistan deeply appreciates the participation of visiting teams and players who will bring immense talent and competitive spirit to our field.
Bangladesh Cricket Board Chairman Nizam Uddin Chowdhury thanked the PCB for confirming Bangladesh’s tour plan of Pakistan for the ICC World Test Championship matches.
“The series is a significant test for us, but it’s also an opportunity to showcase our progress in this format.”
Bangladesh cricket team captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said he is looking forward to returning to Pakistan for the ICC Test World Cup.
“Playing in Pakistan is always a challenging but exciting prospect and we will have to be at our best to compete with a formidable home team in their backyard.”
England excited to return to Pakistan: board chief
England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould said England are really excited to return to Pakistan for this three-match men’s Test tour in October.
“Our last men’s Test tour of Pakistan produced some memorable matches and I’m sure the fans can look forward to more exciting cricket in this upcoming series.”
Cricket West Indies Chief Executive Johnny Grave said they are delighted to visit Pakistan next January for the final Test series in the current ICC World Test Championship cycle.
“Although we have toured Pakistan many times in recent years, it will be almost two decades since we last played Test cricket there. The 2006 series also saw Tests in Karachi and Multan and we look forward to returning in a competitive series against another proud Test cricket nation.
Schedule of Pakistan’s home international matches in 2024-25:
Bangladesh in Pakistan (Two Tests)
21-25 Aug – First Test, Rawalpindi
30 Aug-3 Sep – Second Test, Karachi
England in Pakistan (Three Tests)
7-11 Oct – First Test, Multan
15-19 Oct – Second Test, Karachi
24-28 Oct – Third Test, Rawalpindi
West Indies in Pakistan (Two Tests)
16-20 Jan – First Test, Karachi
24-28 Jan – Second Test, Multan
New Zealand and South Africa in Pakistan (ODI tri-series)
8 Feb – Pakistan v New Zealand, Multan
10 Feb – New Zealand v South Africa, Multan
12 Feb – Pakistan v South Africa, Multan
14 Feb – Final, Multan
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 (Schedule to be announced by the ICC; participating teams are: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa)
19 Feb-Opening match
9 Mar – Final
Schedule of Pakistan’s away international matches in 2024-25:
Pakistan to Australia (three ODIs, three T20Is)
4 Nov – First ODI, Melbourne
8 Nov – Second ODI, Adelaide
10 Nov – Third ODI, Perth
14 Nov – First T20I, Brisbane
16 Nov – Second T20I, Sydney
18 Nov – Third T20I, Hobart
Pakistan to Zimbabwe (three ODIs, three T20Is)
24 Nov – First ODI, Bulawayo
26 Nov – Second ODI, Bulawayo
28 Nov – Third ODI, Bulawayo
1 Dec – First T20I, Bulawayo
3 Dec – Second T20I, Bulawayo
5 Dec – Third T20I, Bulawayo
Pakistan to South Africa (Three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests)
10 Dec – First T20I, Durban
13 Dec – Second T20I, Centurion
14 Dec – Third T20I, Johannesburg
17 Dec – First ODI, Paarl
19 Dec – Second ODI, Cape Town
22 Dec – Third ODI, Johannesburg
26-30 Dec – First Test, Centurion
3-7 Jan – Second Test, Cape Town
