LAHORE: Pakistan will launch their ICC World Cup Super League campaign by hosting Zimbabwe for a three-match ODI series in October-November, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday.

The 50-over matches against Zimbabwe will be played in Multan on Oct 30, Nov 1 and 3, followed by three T20 Internationals in Rawalpindi on Nov 7, 8 and 10.

The International Cricket Council has introduced the Super League to provide context to ODI cricket and will serve as qualification for the 2023 ICC World Cup with the top seven sides automatically booking their spots for the event to be staged in India.

Featuring 13 teams, the 12 Test-playing countries and the Netherlands, the Super League will see each side play four home and as many away three-match series.

Multan, Rawalpindi to stage matches

The PCB pins hope on this successful series against Zimbabwe will pave the way for the next year’s tour of England, which is still in the doldrums on security issues.

PCB director international cricket, Zakir Khan: “The confirmation of the series schedule against Zimbabwe after having successfully hosted Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, as well as Marylebone Cricket Club and HBL Pakistan Super League V, in the 2019-20 season not only strengthens Pakistan’s reputation as a safe and secure country but also a healthy one after having successfully overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This series is critical to Pakistan as it aspires to qualify directly for the ICC World Cup 2023 and, as such, every point in the Super League will count. Our last ODI series was against Sri Lanka, 12 months ago, so the boys will have to hit the ground running and try to pocket maximum points.

“We have strategically scheduled the Zimbabwe matches in Multan and Rawalpindi, the venues which will be hosting the National T20 Cup from 30 Sept 30 to Oct 18. By the time Zimbabwe [squad] arrives, we would have gained enough experience on bio-securing hotels, player transportation, the venues and the players’ dressing rooms as delivery of this series will be under strict Covid-19 protocols to ensure the health and safety of all participants,” Zakir added.

Zimbabwe will carry a 32-member squad to cater for both the formats as well as for the intra-squad warm-ups. The squad will undergo two Covid-19 tests within a space of 48 hours prior to their departure in Harare, while the second tests will be conducted as soon as they arrive in Islamabad.

Players and player support personnel testing negative in Islamabad will be eligible to resume training at a venue, which the PCB will confirm in due course.

Players and player support personnel testing positive during the tour will have to observe a five-day self-isolation and will only be allowed to re-integrate with the side after two negative tests.

The series will be played behind closed doors with no spectators allowed.

Series schedule (match timing and training schedule to be shared in due course):

Oct 20: Zimbabwe squad arrives in Islamabad

Oct 30: First ODI (Multan)

Nov 1: Second ODI (Multan)

Nov 3: Third ODI (Multan)

Nov 4: Travel to Islamabad

Nov 7: First T20 International (Rawalpindi)

Nov 8: Second T20 International (Rawalpindi)

Nov 10: Third T20 International (Rawalpindi)

Nov 11: Zimbabwe squad leaves for Harare.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2020