ST JOHN’S: West Indies will prepare for the defence of their Twenty20 World Cup crown with three home series between June and August against Pakistan, South Africa and Australia, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced on Friday.

Over the course of three months, the West Indies will play four Tests and three One-day Internationals but the main emphasis is on the 15 Twenty20 Internationals which form part of their preparation ahead of the World Cup which is scheduled to take place in India in October/November.

“To host three international teams back-to-back in five territories is unprecedented, and putting these fixtures together was an enormous Covid-related logistical challenge,” said CWI chief executive officer Johnny Grave in a statement. “We must thank the visiting teams for agreeing to travel at this challenging period for world cricket.”

The Proteas, whose 2020 tour was shelved because of coronavirus (Covid-19 pandemic, are due to arrive on June 1 and play two Tests in Castries in St Lucia before travelling to St George’s in Grenada for the five T20 Internationals.

It is the first time that South Africa has played a bilateral series in the West Indies since 2010.

Australia’s white ball-only tour in July includes five Twenty20 Internationals in St Lucia and three day/night One-day Internationals in Bridgetown, Barbados which will count towards the ICC ODI Super League and qualification for the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Pakistan play five Twenty20 Interna­tionals in Bridgetown and Providence, Guyana and two Tests in Kingston, Jamaica in August.

The CWI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have agreed to replace one of their planned three test matches with two additional T20s, with both teams keeping an eye on the Twenty20 World Cup.

On their last tour to the Caribbean in 2017, Pakistan won their maiden Test series 2-1. This provided a perfect farewell to the then captain Misbah-ul-Haq and batting great Younis Khan, who played 276 and 408 international matches, respectively, during their illustrious careers.

Both will return to the Caribbean in coaching roles with Misbah as head coach and Younis as batting coach.

Overall, this will be the ninth Test series between the two sides in the Caribbean since 1957-58 with the sixth-ranked home side leading the fifth-ranked visitors by 4-1.

The CWI, meanwhile said it had not yet determined whether fans would be able to attend matches in person.

Schedule

June 10-14: West Indies vs South Africa, first Test (St Lucia).

June 18-22: West Indies vs South Africa, second Test (St Lucia).

June 26: West Indies vs South Africa, first T20 International (Grenada).

June 27: West Indies vs South Africa, second T20 International (Grenada).

June 29: West Indies vs South Africa, third T20 International (Grenada).

July 1: West Indies vs South Africa, fourth T20 International (Grenada).

July 3: West Indies vs South Africa, fifth T20 International (Grenada).

July 9: West Indies vs Australia, first T20 International (St Lucia, D/N).

July 10: West Indies vs Australia, second T20 International (St Lucia, D/N ).

July 12: West Indies vs Australia, third T20 International (St Lucia, D/N).

July 14: West Indies vs Australia, fourth T20 International (St Lucia, D/N).

July 16: West Indies vs Australia, fifth T20 International (St Lucia, D/N).

July 20: West Indies vs Australia, first One-day International (Bridgetown, D/N).

July 22: West Indies vs Australia, second One-day International (Bridgetown, D/N).

July 24: West Indies vs Australia, third One-day International (Bridgetown, D/N).

July 27: West Indies vs Pakistan, first T20 International (Bridgetown).

July 28: West Indies vs Pakistan, second T20 International (Bridgetown).

July 31: West Indies vs Pakistan, third T20 International (Providence).

Aug 1: West Indies vs Pakistan, fourth T20 International (Providence).

Aug 3: West Indies vs Pakistan, fifth T20 International (Providence).

Aug 12-16: West Indies vs Pakistan, first Test (Kingston).

Aug 20-24: West Indies vs Pakistan, second Test (Kingston).

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2021