Australian delegation visits interior ministry, expresses satisfaction over security measures
Cricket
Australian delegation visits interior ministry, expresses satisfaction over security measures
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – A security delegation of Cricket Australia met with Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in Islamabad on Friday to discuss security arrangements for the visit of Australian team to Pakistan in March-April next year.
The interior minister assured the delegation that foolproof security arrangements have been made in this regard and the Ministry is in contact with the security agencies and governments of Sindh and Punjab.
He said people of Pakistan love cricket and have been waiting for the last twenty-four years to watch Pakistan-Australia matches in their country.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed hoped that this visit will offer an opportunity to watch a good game. He said the Australian team will be given a warm welcome on their arrival in Pakistan.
It is to be mentioned here that the series between Pakistan and Australia will take place in March and April 2022. It will comprise three Tests, three ODIs and one T20I.
The Tests will be played in Karachi (3-7 March), Rawalpindi (12-16 March) and Lahore (21-25 March), while Lahore will be the venue for the four white-ball matches to be played from 29 March to 5 April.
The Tests will be played as part of the ICC World Test Championship, while the ODIs will be connected to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League – a 13-team event from which the seven highest-placed sides and the hosts, India, will qualify directly for the event proper in 2023.
Australia last toured Pakistan in 1998-99 when Mark Taylor led them to a 1-0 series victory – their first since Richie Benaud’s side defeated Fazal Mahmood’s team by 2-0 in the 1959-60 series. Between the two series, Pakistan hosted Australia in 1964-65 (drew 0-0), 1979-80 (won 1-0), 1982-83 (won 3-0), 1988-89 (won 1-0) and 1994-95 (won 1-0).
Pakistan staged the last four series with Australia offshore – 2002-2003 (Colombo and Sharjah, Pakistan lost 3-0), 2010 (drew 1-1 in England), 2014-15 (won 2-0 in the UAE) and 2018-19 (won 1-0 in the UAE).
