PCB hopeful of hosting New Zealand in 2021

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wasim Khan, in a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, was hopeful about New Zealand team’s tour of Pakistan in January next year.

Khan was optimistic that the Kiwi team might tour Pakistan for two Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).

“We are working on taking international cricket in every city. The next normal tour is expected in Pakistan when New Zealand will tour the country next year to play two Tests and three T20Is,” Khan said.

ALSO READ: Islamabad unsure about Dale Steyn's availability for starting HBL PSL matches

The PCB’s CEO stated that the tour of New Zealand will provide a balanced schedule since all matches will be held at a single venue.

“When they will come, we can provide more of a balanced schedule of matches. It makes sense to completely play series at a single venue because these are the short tours which were held recently in past months. The role of the media has been very enormous in helping us normalizing things,” he added.

The tour of New Zealand, as revealed by Khan, would be different from the segmented series against Bangladesh, which is split into three parts. Three T20Is between Pakistan and Bangladesh were played in January followed by a solitary Test match in February while a single one-day international (ODI) and the second Test match of the tour is scheduled to be played in April.

Earlier, Cricket South Africa (CSA) called off the upcoming tour of Pakistan citing the player’s workload as the primary reason.

The PCB is adamant that the officials in the CSA are keen to move forward with the tour in a future date that is convenient for both boards. According to an official in the PCB, a new window is currently being evaluated for the tour.