Jos Buttler and Babar Azam Batting. (Photo Source : Gettyimages)
In an exhilarating announcement for the fans of the sport, the cricket boards of England and Pakistan have confirmed a thrilling four-match T20I series set to take place in May 2024. This showdown will serve as a tantalising prelude to the highly anticipated 2024 men’s T20 World Cup in the picturesque Caribbean.
The chosen venues for this electrifying clash have been strategically selected to ignite the passions of cricket fans far and wide. Game one of this highly anticipated series will be played on May 22 in Leeds, followed by a match on May 25 in Birmingham.
Then, both teams will be travelling to Cardiff on May 28 for the next match, before concluding with a thrilling encounter at The Oval on May 30. One can expect fireworks as both teams will be looking to build momentum before their journey to the Caribbean for the T20 extravaganza.
In addition to England series, Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, will also face off against the Netherlands and Ireland in a series of five T20Is before taking on the T20 defending champions. Details of these contests will be unveiled at a later date, but fans can anticipate a display of cricketing brilliance as teams will look to prepare hard and well ahead of the showpiece event.
This upcoming clash between England and Pakistan carries added significance, as the two sides engaged in a fiercely contested seven-match series in Pakistan ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup. The battles witnessed both teams leaving no stone unturned in their quest for victory. Eventually, England emerged triumphant with a narrow 4-3 margin and also clinched the T20 World title against the same opponents at Melbourne’s iconic MCG.
England and Pakistan women’s teams to also engage in bilateral contest
Adding to the excitement, the women’s teams from England and Pakistan will simultaneously engage in their own riveting bilateral series. This series will comprise three T20Is and as many ODIs.
Once the dust settles on the T20 extravaganza, England’s men will shift their focus to an enthralling Test summer. They will welcome the West Indies for three Tests from July 10 to 30, followed by the same number of Tests against Sri Lanka from August 21 to September 10.
As the excitement builds, Australia, currently embroiled in the Ashes series, will return to England in September 2024 for a series of white-ball encounters, including three T20Is and five ODIs.