Pakistan to Host West Indies for January Tests in Multan

Karachi, Pakistan: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the West Indies men's cricket team will tour Pakistan for two ICC World Test Championship matches in January 2024. The West Indies will arrive in Islamabad on January 6, 2024, to kick off the series with a three-day match against Pakistan Shaheens at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from January 10-12. Following this, the teams will face off in two back-to-back Test matches at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

According to a PCB statement, the first Test will be held from January 17 to 21, while the second Test is scheduled from January 25 to 29. Although both teams are out of contention for the World Test Championship final, the matches will still count towards the ongoing tournament.

This series marks the West Indies' return to Pakistan for Test cricket after 19 years. Their last Test series in Pakistan was in November 2006, when they played three Tests. The West Indies' most recent visits to Pakistan, however, have been for limited-overs formats. They toured for an ODI series in June 2022 and for T20I series in April 2018 and December 2021.

Multan will once again be the host city for the West Indies' Test matches in Pakistan. The city previously hosted a historic Test against Zimbabwe in 2021, which was hailed as a successful return to Test cricket in the region.

For the Test series, the following playing hours have been confirmed:

• First session: 9:30am - 12:00pm
• Second session: 12:40pm - 2:40pm (1pm - 3pm on Fridays)
• Third session: 3:00pm - 4:30pm (3:20pm - 4:50pm on Fridays)

The PCB has also emphasized that the tour will proceed in accordance with all necessary health and safety protocols to ensure the safety of both teams, the officials, and the fans. This series will provide crucial match practice for both teams, especially with the upcoming international fixtures ahead.