England Cricket Board (ECB) Receives An Official Invitation From Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) To Tour Pakistan For Limited-Overs Cricket

“We welcome the fact that international cricket is returning to Pakistan and are committed to doing what we can to help this develop further,” ECB said in a release.

England have not toured Pakistan since 2005 and their next trip is scheduled only in 2022 according to the Future Tours Programme (FTP). For the proposed tour next year, ECB have listed COVID-19 bio-secure bubbles, overall security in the country and an already busy schedule of the England cricket team as the primary challenges, but said no final decision has been taken yet.

“As with any proposed tour that takes place at this time, the safety and welfare of our players and staff is paramount,” the release further said.

“As such, there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration, including the proposed protocols in relation to COVID-19 bio-secure bubbles, the proposed levels of security around the team, as well as the feasibility of undertaking this tour against the backdrop of an already busy schedule of international cricket for the England men’s team,” the statement added.

“We will be liaising with the PCB, and as well as other partners over the coming weeks to work through these considerations, before a final decision will be taken in due course,” the statement further read.