PAKISTAN TOUR OF WEST INDIES, 2025
Pakistan’s position is to play as many Twenty20 Internationals as possible, primarily in view of the T20 World Cup next year © Getty
Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appear to be locked in a scheduling conflict over next month’s white-ball series in the United States and the Caribbean. It has been learned that the Pakistan team is insisting on changing the Caribbean leg of the tour and may reportedly consider options if the schedule is not revised by the West Indies board.
The teams are scheduled to play three Twenty20 Internationals and three ODIs in the US and the Caribbean, in that order, from August 1 to 12. At the heart of the reported disagreement is the PCB’s request to convert all three matches of the second leg into T20Is. Those involved in the discussions confirm that the Pakistan board is reportedly insisting on playing only the shortest format.
CWI is keen to retain the second leg of the series in Trinidad as scheduled, in the ODI format. Understandably so, as the West Indies – having missed out on the last ODI World Cup in India in 2023 – are eager to play more 50-over matches. The CWI confirmed to Cricbuzz that discussions with the PCB over the schedule are ongoing.
“The schedule remains as it is, and we continue to engage with the PCB on the matter,” CWI CEO Chris Dehring told this website on Wednesday evening, en route to Singapore for the ICC Annual Conference. He also confirmed that the two boards will hold further consultations on the sidelines of the conclave in Singapore.
The PCB’s position is to play as many Twenty20 Internationals as possible, primarily in view of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year. PCB COO Sumair Ahmed recently spoke on record about this. While announcing the T20I squad for the upcoming Bangladesh series, he revealed that the PCB is in talks with the CWI, as the board is keen to provide maximum exposure to the national T20 side.
As per the original schedule, the three T20Is are on August 1, 2 and 4 at Lauderhill, Florida, followed by as many ODIs in Tarauba, Trinidad.
© Cricbuzz
