England will now play SEVEN T20 matches when they tour Pakistan next year

England will now play seven T20 internationals when they visit Pakistan in September and October next year.

After the cancellation of England’s visit to the country last month on security grounds, the team will now head to Pakistan in 2022.

And the Pakistan Cricket Board has announced that two extra T20 fixtures have now been added to the five already scheduled.

They will offer preparation for the T20 World Cup set to be staged in Australia in October and November 2022, before England then return to Pakistan for a Test series.

It came after the ECB chief executive Tom Harrison flew to Pakistan to meet the country’s prime minister Imran Khan and PCB chief executive Ramiz Raja in an effort to repair strained relations.

PCB officials were left furious when England pulled out of their recent tour – which also included a number of white ball games for the women’s team – at short notice.

The ECB cited security concerns in the wake of New Zealand abandoning their own tour on the morning of the opening ODI in Rawalpindi.

It was especially galling for Pakistan after they came to England amid the Covid-19 pandemic to save the 2020 Test match summer. 

PCB chairman Ramiz Raja (right), ECB chief executive Tom Harrison (middle) and ECB deputy chairman Martin Darlow talk during their visit to the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore

Staying in a strict bio-secure bubble, Pakistan played three Tests and three T20s behind closed doors at Old Trafford and the Ageas Bowl.  

England have not toured Pakistan since late 2005 but that will change next year.

Harrison said: ‘Myself and ECB’s Senior Director Martin Darlow visited Lahore to talk face to face with the PCB around some of the things that have happened over the past few weeks, leading to the cancelation of our tour in October. 

‘We also wanted to discuss the future as the two boards have a historic relationship and want to move the agenda towards a forward-looking one as opposed to one looking back.

‘We’re happy to announce that we’ll play two extra white-ball T20Is on our men’s tour of Pakistan in September and October 2022. 

Pakistan celebrate their win over Scotland at the ongoing T20 World Cup in the UAE

‘We will then return after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia to complete the Test match element of that tour.

‘This is just to reaffirm our commitment to Pakistan cricket to getting England teams, men’s and women’s teams, eventually playing in Pakistan at home.

‘I don’t think there’s a cricketer in England who doesn’t want to test their abilities against the huge talent this country has and in the conditions they know best.

‘We also talked with our colleagues at the PCB around pathway engagement, how we can support proposals around the women’s game and some interesting ideas around the domestic agenda here in Pakistan.

‘We’re going to build on these plans going forward together and we’re excited about that too.’

Pakistan came to England to play behind closed doors Tests and T20 matches last year

Raja said: ‘The ECB have shown their large heartedness to be here for which I am thankful to Tom and Martin. It means a lot to us.

‘We are excited that England have committed to playing two additional T20Is as part of their white-ball tour in September/October in 2022. 

‘We put in lot of efforts to make sure that all visiting teams are comfortable in Pakistan. 

‘As such, it is a matter of pride for the Pakistan fans, who look forward to welcoming Australia and England in 2022.

‘England have got a great team and it’s mind-boggling how they’ve produced so many match-winners in a span of about five to seven years. 

‘They play very engaging and attractive cricket, which is fantastic for the fans and a big advertisement of the game.’