Pakistan will play the opening match of the series against Sri Lanka on October 15 which will put light on Shajrah once again where Pakistan last played their test match against the West Indies. Sharjah will come under focus when Test cricket will return to the Stadium while matches will also be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai when Pakistan hosts series against Sri Lanka and England.
Sharjah staged Tests between Pakistan and the West Indies in February 2002, but the stadium had been precluded from holding major international matches since 2003 due to match-fixing allegations. “This is a fantastic season for us to host back-to-back series of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB),” Emirates Cricket Board chief executive officer Dilawar Mani said. Sri Lanka will play three Tests, five one-day internationals (ODIs) and a Twenty20 from October 18 to November 25, while England feature in three Tests, four ODIs and three T20s from January 17 to February 27.
The UAE has been used as PCB’s adopted home since international teams refused to travel to Pakistan over security concerns after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team in March 2009. Sri Lanka are due to arrive in Abu Dhabi on October 15 and will play the first Test at Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium from October 18 to 22. The second Test will take place from October 26 to 30 in Dubai with the third and final match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium from November 3 to 7 while England will land on January 3 and will play a three-day warm up game on January 11.
