LONDON: England will play Pakistan in Test, one-day international and Twenty20 fixtures in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of their 2011/12 tour programme, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced Wednesday.

England and Pakistan are due to play three Tests, four one-day internationals and three Twenty20s in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

“The matches will be played at the neutral venues of Dubai and Abu Dhabi and the itinerary will be announced soon,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.

Pakistan have not played a major international match at home since Sri Lanka's team bus was attacked by armed militants in Lahore in March 2009.

“The winter programme will see England travel to UAE early in the New Year to play Pakistan in all three formats of the game followed by a short break in the UK before the team takes on Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series,” ECB chief executive David Collier said.

The three Twenty20 matches in Pakistan, an unusually high number for one tour, will help England prepare for the defence of their World Twenty20 title in Sri Lanka next year.

England's 2011/12 tour schedule:England v Pakistan, UAEECB and PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) have agreed the tour will comprise three Tests, four ODIs and three T20s to be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.