West Indies to tour Pakistan for three-match T20I series in 2023

In what can be called a major announcement, West Indies are set to play three T20Is in Pakistan ahead of the Pakistan Super League in 2023. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the same on Wednesday (December 22). This will mark the Caribbean team’s third visit to the Asian nation in the space of around 14 months. The two sides recently locked horns in three T20Is.

As many ODI matches were also in schedule but were postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. Hence, the ODI series is now scheduled to take place in June next year. Boards of the two nations have now decided to organize one more T20I series, which will take place in 2022 just before the Pakistan Super League.

“West Indies will play three Twenty20 Internationals in the build up to the HBL Pakistan Super League 2023. The West Indies team are already scheduled to play ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League ODIs in June 2022 to make up for the postponed December 2021 matches due to an increased number of Covid-19 cases in their side,” PCB stated in a press release.

West Indies’ 2021 tour of Pakistan was marred with COVID-19 crisis

Notably, West Indies’ recently tour of Pakistan was largely affected by the COVID-19 issues. As many as five players were infected midway through the series, including 3 players namely Shai Hope, Akael Hossain and Justin Greaves. In fact, the Caribbean team hardly managed to field a playing XI for the final T20I, with seven first-team members being ineligible to take the field.

As a result, officials and board members of both nations’ arrived at a decision for the ODI series to be played next year. Meanwhile, Babar Azam’s men comfortably clinched the series 3-0 as the visitors were hardly able to put up a fight. Hence, the Men in Maroon would like to put up a better show in their next two visits.

Meanwhile, Pakistan will have a packed home season in 2022-23. Australia will tour Pakistan for a fully fledged series comprising March-April. New Zealand, on the other hand, will visit Pakistan twice to make up for the postponed series in October 2021. Hence, PCB will be determined to conduct these fixtures without any hassle.