Pakistan and Australia will face each other in a 2-match Twenty20 and 2-match test series in England in July 2010. The test series will be a very rare case in international cricket it will take place at a neutral country. Generally, test matches involve the host nation, and test series are meant to be bilateral series.
Actually, it is a home series for Pakistan, but Australia is unwilling to visit Pakistan due to concern over the security condition of the country. In fact, Pakistan did not host any international cricket match since the Lahore terror attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in March 2009 that left 6 people killed and several injured. Australia did not visit Pakistan since 1998 for the same reason.
Pakistan visited Australia earlier this year and was whitewashed by the Aussies in the 3-match test series. Pakistan’s performance against Australia over the past one decade is not impressive at all. The last time Pakistan won a test match against Australia came in 1995.
It is not going to be first time that Pakistan and Australia are taking part in a test series at a neutral venue. In 2003, Pakistan and Australia participated in a 3-match test series of which one was held in Sri Lanka and two in Sharjah, UAE. Australia clinched the series 3-0.
This time England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has come forward to host the test and twenty20 series. Interestingly, Marylebone Cricket Club, widely-known as MCC, has been the official sponsor of the Pakistan-Australia series in its bid to promote spirit of cricket.
MCC is perhaps the most famous club in the history of cricket and the club once acted as the regulatory body of world cricket. The series is significant because it is the first time a cricket club, instead of a business organization, has sponsored a cricket series.
Here is the schedule of the twenty20 and test series between Pakistan and Australia:
| Date | Competing Teams | Time | Venue |
| July 5 Mon | Pakistan vs Australia (1st T20) | GMT 16:00; Local 17:00 | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| July 6 Tue | Pakistan vs Australia (2nd T20) | GMT 16:00; Local 17:00 | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| 8-9 July Thu-Fri | Derbyshire vs Australians (Tour Match) | GMT 11:00; Local 12:00 | County Ground, Derby |
| 13-17 July Tue-Sat | Pakistan vs Australia (1st Test) | GMT 09:30; Local 10:30 | Lord's, London |
| 21-25 July Wed-Sun | Pakistan vs Australia (2nd Test) | GMT 09:30; Local 10:30 | Headingley, Leeds |
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ReplyDeletePakistan win all matchs..
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