West Indies board announce Pakistan tour dates

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), announced on Wednesday (January 11), that Pakistan will tour the Caribbean to play two Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), three Tests and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in April-May. The Asian country hasn`t toured the Caribbean since 2013 when they beat West Indies 3-1 in ODIs and won both the T20Is.

Pakistan will start their tour by playing a couple of T20Is at Sabina Park on March 31 and April 2, respectively. They are also set to play three ODIs at the Guyana National stadium on April 7, 9 and 11, respectively.

The visitors then will play a three-day practice match at Trelawny in Jamaica, commencing on April 15. The first Test of the three-match Test series will begin on April 22 at Sabina Park. The second Test of the rubber will take place at Kensington Oval in Barbados on April 30 followed by the final game to be played at Windsor Park in Dominica, beginning on May 10.

Last year, Pakistan had blanked West Indies 3-0 in both T20Is and ODIs in the United Arab Emirates. They also overcame the tourists 2-1 in the Test series.

"To improve its ranking. Any series against Pakistan always poses an interesting contest for the West Indies," Roland Holder, the WICB`s manager of operations, said.

Pakistan are currently ranked eighth in the International Cricket Council`s (ICC) ODI rankings with 89 points, while West Indies are just three points behind them with 86 points. Only top eight teams at the cutoff date of September 1, 2017 are assured of an automatic berth for the ICC World Cup in 2019. If West Indies or Pakistan fail to get a direct entry, then they have to play in the ICC World Cup qualifier slated to be held in Bangladesh in 2018.

Schedule
Friday, March 31 - 1st T20 - Queen`s Park Oval
Sunday, April 2 - 2nd T20 - Queen`s Park Oval
Friday, April 7 - 1st ODI - Guyana National Stadium
Sunday, April 9 - 2nd ODI - Guyana National Stadium
Tuesday, April 11 - 3rd ODI - Guyana National Stadium
Saturday, April 15 - 3-Day Match - Trelawny Stadium
Friday, April 22 - 1st Test - Sabina Park
Sunday April 30 - 2nd Test - Kensington Oval
Wednesday, May 10 - 3rd Test - Windsor Park

Source: cricbuzz