Pakistan tour Netherlands for the T20Is series, set for May next year, has been postponed due to scheduling conflicts, as per Cricbuzz reports.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) asked the Netherlands Cricket Board (KNCB) to delay the series to ease pressure on an already packed cricket calendar. Both boards are now looking for alternatives to reschedule the series.
Initially, Pakistan had shown interest in visiting the Netherlands again after their CWC Super League series in Rotterdam in 2022.
A three-match T20I series was planned for early May, ahead of Pakistan’s tour to Ireland and England. However, Pakistan’s home series against New Zealand in April made it challenging to fit in the Dutch leg of their European tour.
Consequently, the PCB aimed to rearrange the series to ease the scheduling issues.
“We’re disappointed, but we understand the situation and hope to find a new time to play the series, either at home or away”
said KNCB High-Performance Manager Roland Lefebrve to Cricbuzz.
It’s worth noting that Pakistan recently set up two five-match T20I series with New Zealand in 2024. Pakistan heads to New Zealand in January, and the Blackcaps return in April.
With the cancellation of the Netherlands’ tour, Pakistan will now play 16 T20Is leading up to the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Pakistan’s T20I schedule in preparation for the T20 World Cup:
January 3-7: Australia vs Pakistan – Third Test in Sydney
January 12: New Zealand vs Pakistan – First T20I in Auckland
January 14: New Zealand vs Pakistan – Second T20I in Hamilton
January 17: New Zealand vs Pakistan – Third T20I in Dunedin
January 19: New Zealand vs Pakistan – Fourth T20I in Christchurch
January 21: New Zealand vs Pakistan – Fifth T20I in Christchurch
February 8-March 24: Pakistan Super League season 9
April: Pakistan vs New Zealand – Five T20Is (Dates and venues yet to be announced)
May: Two T20Is vs Ireland in Ireland (Dates and venues yet to be announced)
May 22: England vs Pakistan – First T20I in Leeds
May 25: England vs Pakistan – Second T20I in Birmingham
May 28: England vs Pakistan – Third T20I in Cardiff
May 30: England vs Pakistan – Fourth T20I at The Oval, London
June 4-30: ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in West Indies and United States