Pakistan will play 5 T20Is and two Tests when they tour West Indies later this year.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stated that it has dropped one Test match and instead opted for two extra T20Is against West Indies in July-August this year.
Pakistan is set to tour England and West Indies later this year. After the tour of the UK, where they will play an ODI and T20I series, the Babar Azam-led side will move to the Caribbean to play two Tests and five T20Is between July 21 and August 24.
However, earlier it was stated that Pakistan will play three Tests and 3 T20Is against West Indies. On Friday (14th May) PCB brought to the notice that they in consultation with Cricket West Indies (CWI) have dropped one Test match and instead opted for two extra T20Is, keeping in mind the T20 World Cup which will take place later this year.
"In consultation with the Cricket West Indies and keeping an eye on this year's T20 World Cup, we have agreed to replace one Test match with two additional T20Is. This is aimed at providing further T20 content for both teams, as we continue to prepare and build up to the global ICC event,” PCB CEO Wasim Khan said.
Wasim Khan said that a tour to West Indies is always valued and prized for the Pakistan cricket team.
"The tour to the West Indies is always a valued and prized tour for the Pakistan cricket teams. The Caribbean cricket history, backed up by the excellent playing facilities, supporting crowds and great ambience, encourages and motivates the players to produce their very best," he said.
PCB CEO further said that Pakistan will host New Zealand, England, West Indies and Australia in the next eight months. He remarked that every series is important for them as they want to be in the top three across all formats by 2023.
"In addition to playing England, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and the T20 World Cup and the away series, we will be hosting New Zealand, England, West Indies and Australia in the next eight months. This makes every series important and critical for our side as we aspire to feature in the top three across all formats by 2023,” he said.
The first two matches of the five T20I-series between West Indies and Pakistan will be in Barbados on July 27 and 28 before action shifts to Guyana for back-to-back T20Is on July 31 and August 1 and series finale on August 3.
While the two-Test series will take place at Sabina Park from August 12-16 and August 20-24.
(PTI inputs)