The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the schedule for New Zealand’s upcoming tour of Pakistan, featuring a series of five Twenty20 International (T20I) matches set to take place in April.
According to a press release, the New Zealand cricket team is slated to arrive in Islamabad on April 14th. The initial three T20I matches of the tour will be held at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, with both teams then transitioning to Lahore for the remaining two matches.
The series is scheduled to commence on April 18th, concluding on April 27th.
Training/practice sessions of both teams would commence on April 16 and concluded on April 17. First T20I would be held in Rawalpindi April 18, followed by other fixers on April 20 and 21.
Fourth and the fifth T20I would be played in Lahore April 25 and 27, respectively.
This tour marks New Zealand’s third tour to Pakistan within a span of 17 months. Their previous visits in December 2022 and April 2023 saw a resurgence of cricketing ties after an 18-year hiatus, with the Kiwis securing a test draw in their first visit and claiming a 2-1 victory in the subsequent ODI series.
The T20I series in April last year ended in a 2-2 draw, with Pakistan asserting dominance in the ODIs, clinching the series 4-1.
In a statement attributed to the PCB’s Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, the press release underscored the significance of this tour in fostering the enduring camaraderie between the PCB and New Zealand Cricket (NZC).
“We are thrilled to unveil the schedule for the New Zealand men’s team tour to Pakistan 2024,” Wahla remarked.
“This tour epitomizes the profound ties and mutual respect that define the relationship between our two cricketing nations,” he elaborated.
“Our passionate cricket fans and the people of Pakistan eagerly anticipate the return of the New Zealand team, and we anticipate yet another fiercely contested series as we gear up for this year’s ICC T20 World Cup,” he added.
