The England T20I team led by Jos Buttler will play seven games from September 20 to October 2 in Karachi and Lahore, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) declared in a statement on Tuesday.

It will be England’s first tour to Pakistan after 17 years.

The National Stadium in Karachi will have the matches on September20, 22, 23 and 25, preceding the activity will move to the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, where the excess three matches will be played on September 28, 30 and October 2.

The seven T20Is will be essential for the primary leg of England’s visit through Pakistan and they will return after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Australia 2022 for three Tests in December.

“We are absolutely delighted to confirm hosting England for seven T20Is in Karachi and Lahore as a curtain-raiser to a busy, entertaining and exciting season of home internationals. England is one of the top-ranked T20I teams and them playing the shortest format in the lead up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Pakistan will not only help the team management to finalise their preparations, but will also set the tone for December’s three-Test series.”

Zakir Khan, PCB Director International Cricket

ALSO READ: CWG 2022: Sourav Ganguly on India’s silver

“We are looking forward to returning to Pakistan and playing these seven T20Is as the team builds up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. We have been liaising closely with the PCB over arrangements for this visit and the Tests later in the year, and will continue to work closely with the PCB, British High Commission and other relevant authorities as we continue to prepare for these tours,”

Rob Key, ECB Managing Director England Men’s Cricket, said

Timetable of T20Is

• September 20 – first T20I, Karachi
• September 22 – second T20I, Karachi
• September 23 – third T20I, Karachi
• September 25 – fourth T20I, Karachi
• September 28 – fifth T20I, Lahore
• September 30 – sixth T20I, Lahore