Busy schedule for England, despite Covid19

LONDON: England will host Ireland in a threematch oneday international series starting on July 30 before taking on Pakistan in a packed summer calendar, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced yesterday.

The Ireland squad will arrive in England and set up its base at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton, on July 18, before facing world champion England in three ODIs at the same venue.

The second and third ODIs between the two sides will be on August 1 and August 4.

Ireland, which last played an international against Afghanistan in March, has beaten England only once in 10 ODI encounters.

It will be Ireland's first fixtures of the new World Cup Super League — the qualification process for the 2023 tournament.

Pakistan, which arrived in England on June 28 to quarantine before the bilateral series, will face the host in three tests and three Twenty20 internationals.

The first test will be played from August 59 at Old Trafford, before the teams head to Southampton for the second (August 1317) and then third test (August 2125).

The three T20 matches will be played at Old Trafford, the opening game scheduled for August 28.

England returns to action following the Covid19 stoppage with three tests against West Indies, the first match scheduled to begin in Southampton tonight without fans in attendance.

The ECB confirmed it was also exploring options to host England's limitedovers series against Australia this summer. — Reuters