June 20, 2007	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 04, 1428

LAHORE, June 19: Except a major part of February 2007, Pakistan’s seniors will be playing non-stop international cricket during the next twelve months, according to the schedule announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday.

The PCB Director Cricket Operations Zakir Khan, who made the announcement, also revealed the schedule of Under-19 and ‘A’ teams for the same period.

In all, the seniors will represent Pakistan in 33 One-day Internationals and eight Tests besides featuring in Twenty20 and Super Sixes events, in a total of 10 different competitions during this period.

Included in the schedule are three full Test and ODI series against South Africa, Australia and India.

The coming season commences with a short tour of Scotland where Pakistan will play two ODIs, one each against Scotland (on July 1) and India (July 3).

In August, Pakistan will take part in a Twenty20 event, which will be held either in Canada or Kenya while in September the Pakistanis will feature in the first Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.

In September-October South Africa will tour Pakistan to play two Tests and five ODIs.

In October, the seniors will also take part in a Super Sixes tournament in Hong Kong before embarking on a gruelling tour to India in November to play three Tests and five ODIs there.

In 2008 Zimbabwe will visit Pakistan for five ODIs from Jan 21 to Feb 5.

Then after about a month’s break the world champions Australia will land in Pakistan on March 10 to stay here till April 27 to lock horns with the hosts in three Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20.

In April Pakistan will stage the Asia Cup limited-overs tournament, involving India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Oman and the UAE besides the hosts while in May Pakistan will tour Bangladesh to participate in a tri-series also involving India besides the hosts.In June the Pakistanis will represent Asia in the Afro-Asian one-day tournament in Nairobi, Kenya.

Pakistan’s Under-19 team will have five different competitions during the next twelve months, including the World Cup in Malaysia from Feb 17 to March 2, 2008.

The other assignments are a tour to England from July 25 to Aug 25, a return tour of Australia’s Under-19 squad to Pakistan from Oct 1 to 13 followed by home and away series against Bangladesh in November and January.

Meanwhile, the ‘A’ team will only play a home series against Australia in September, during this period.

A five-day match between the domestic champions of Pakistan and India for Mohammad Nissar Trophy will also be held in Pakistan in August.

Schedule (senior team):

July 1: v Scotland (Glasgow).

July 3: v India (Glasgow).

August: Twenty20 championship (Canada or Kenya).

Sept 12-24: Twenty20 World Cup (South Africa).

Sept 26-Oct 29: South Africa’s tour to Pakistan.

Oct 27-28: Hong Kong Super Sixes.

Nov 2-Dec 13: Tour to India.

Jan 21-Feb 5: Zimbabwe’s tour to Pakistan.

March 10-April 27: Australia’s tour to Pakistan.

April-May: Asia Cup (Pakistan).

May: Tri-series v India, Bangladesh (Bangladesh).

June: Afro-Asia Cup (Nairobi).

(Under-19):

July 25-Aug 25: Tour to England.

August: Mohammad Nisar Trophy match between domestic champions of India and Pakistan (Pakistan).Oct 1-13: Australia U-19s’ tour to Pakistan.

Nov 7-27: Bangladesh’s tour to Pakistan.

January: Tour to Bangladesh.

(‘A’ team):

Sept 1-23: Australia’s tour to Pakistan.