PCB decides to eliminate two-match Test series from 2023

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to do away with the two-match Test series from 2023 onward as the country is all set to have a three-match Test rubber instead, enabling the team members to make the maximum of the bilateral events.

A source has told ‘The News’ that negotiations have got underway with all the cricket boards except India on the Future Test Programme (FTP).

“It is very important to have a three-match Test series as the experience to have two-match series could not fetch the desired results. Three-match series allows opponent teams to gain maximum from the bilateral events. Four years back we had opted for two-match Test series that in some cases backfired, forcing the PCB to change the future course of action when it comes to hosting the series or playing Test matches abroad,” the source in the PCB said.

PCB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wasim Khan is currently busy in negotiations with his counterparts in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, England, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to finalise a more viable FTP for the four years starting from 2023 to 2027.

“Now when there is absolutely no security issue in Pakistan, the PCB wants the best deal in the wake of no international cricket in Pakistan for the last almost a decade. If any country deserves a better deal from the ICC on the mega international events and from different cricketing boards on the bilateral series, it is Pakistan. So efforts would be made to make up for the last time and organise the best cricket from Pakistan’s perspective from 2023 to 2027.

“As everything has been finalised till 2023, we have no power to make any changes except where both cricket boards get agreed. From 2023 onward our effort is to earn the most reasonable deal for the country. As far as the bilateral series against India is concerned, that is only possible if the governments on either side of the border agree to revive cricket ties. At this point of time, India is not our priority when it comes to finalizing the bilateral future Test series,” the source added.

Pakistan is scheduled to play home and away two-match Test series against all the leading countries except India during the next 18 months. After the two limited-overs series against England in England, the team will leave for West Indies to figure in two Tests and five T20Is. The tour will be followed by Pakistan’s limited series against Afghanistan in the UAE in September and then the New Zealand tour to Pakistan for three T20Is and three ODIs. England is also scheduled to play two T20s in Pakistan ahead of October-November before the start of the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan team will then embark on a Bangladesh tour to play two-Tests and three T20Is in December. Australia are due to travel to Pakistan in February-March 2022 to play two Test, three ODIs and three T20s. Pakistan is also scheduled to visit Sri Lanka in spring (dates to be announced later). The tour will be followed by T20 World Cup to be held in Australia in 2022. New Zealand will again travel to Pakistan to play two Test matches and three ODIs in early winter in 2022 followed by England tour to Pakistan to figure in the three Tests and five ODIs.