The Pakistan cricket Board (PCB) announced Tuesday the itinerary for their autumn series against Sri Lanka to be played in the neutral territory of the United Arab Emirates. has announced the Itinerary for the Pakistan series against Sri Lanka to be held at the UAE in October and November 2011. The series will also see the revival of Test cricket at the Sharjah stadium after 11 years after Pakistan and Australia last played Tests at the desert venue in 2002. Pakistan has been forced to play its home series against Sri Lanka in the UAE after the Lankans refused to tour Pakistan because of security concerns. Sharjah will also host an ODI between the two teams marking its return as an international venue after eight years.
The PCB announcing the itinerary of the series said the matches would be played at Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi as the venues were cost effective. “We had a choice of neutral venues but we opted for UAE because it allows us to manage things smoothly,” chief operating officer, Subhan Ahmad said. The Sri Lankan team came under attack by militants in March, 2009 in Lahore in which six Pakistani policemen and a van driver were killed and five visiting players wounded. Since than no foreign team has toured Pakistan. Sri Lanka had also offered to host the series at home but the offer was declined by the PCB. Pakistan is also due to host England in Jan-Feb next year in the UAE for a full series.
October 15 – Teams arrive in the UAE
October 18-22 – First Test – Abu Dhabi
October 26-30 – Second Test – Dubai
November 3-7 – Third Test – Sharjah
November 11 – First one-day international – Dubai
November 14 – Second one-day international – Dubai
November 18 – Third one-day international – Dubai
November 20 – Fourth one-day international – Sharjah
November 23 – Fifth one-day international – Abu Dhabi
November 25 – Twenty20 match – Abu Dhabi
