PAK v ENG 2022: WATCH- England players arrive in Pakistan for a series for the first time in 17 years

England last played in Pakistan in 2005.

Alex Hales, who made his return to England team since 2019, seen with the squad | GettyThe England team landed in Karachi for the 7-match T20I series against Pakistan, which is their first tour of the country in 17 years. England last played in Pakistan in 2005 and was due to visit last year until pulling out at short notice after New Zealand also canceled a tour citing safety concerns.

Following a deadly 2009 attack by terrorists on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, Pakistan was forced to play international matches at neutral venues such as the UAE, where they hosted England for a series in 2012 and 2015.

But over the last 5 years, international cricket has slowly come back to Pakistan with Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe touring the country.  And earlier this year Australia toured successfully for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century.

PAK v ENG 2022: PCB releases schedule of England’s first tour to Pakistan in 17 years

The PCB said that it was confident that England matches will be played safely as the Australia series had "demonstrated their event planning and operational skills”.

On match days, roads between the England team hotel and Karachi's National stadium will be sealed off and under armed guard. A helicopter will monitor their journey and shops and offices overlooking the stadium will be ordered to shut.

The tour comes as Pakistan grapples with catastrophic flooding that has left nearly a third of the country under water and affected at least 33 million people.

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The 19-man England squad, captained by Jos Buttler, will play seven T20Is against Pakistan in Karachi and Lahore from September 20 to October 2 as both teams prepare for next month's T20 World Cup in Australia.

England will then return in December to play three five-day Test matches.

The PCB shared photos of the England team squad arriving in their hotel in Karachi on their social media account. Journalists also shared videos of England team in Karachi as well.

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By Jatin Sharma - 15 Sep, 2022

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