Islamabad
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl and Lancashire’s Emirates Old Trafford will host their men team’s international matches behind closed doors later this summer against Ireland and Pakistan.
Ireland’s all three ODIs will be played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, said an ICC press release. The series marks another step made towards cricket’s gradual return to normality since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. England are due to kick off their three-Test series against West Indies this Wednesday and their Ireland series is set to commence just two days after the culmination of the final Test.
The ECB also confirmed the exact dates of Pakistan’s tour of England that will consist of three Tests and three T20Is. All nine fixtures confirmed across the two tours will be held at either the Ageas Bowl or the Emirates Old Trafford ground in Manchester.
While no dates have been formally announced, the ECB reiterated their desire for England women to host a tri-series against India and South Africa at some point this summer. All international cricket this summer will be played behind closed doors.
Full England v Ireland fixture list: 1st ODI: Thursday 30 July, The Ageas Bowl (2.00pm BST) 2nd ODI: v Saturday 1 August, The Ageas Bowl (2.00pm BST) 3rd ODI: v Tuesday 4 August, The Ageas Bowl (2.00pm BST) Full England v Pakistan fixture list: 1st Test: 5-9 August, Emirates Old Trafford (11.00am BST) 2nd Test: 13-17 August, The Ageas Bowl (11.00am BST) 3rd Test: 21-25 August, The Ageas Bowl (11.00am BST) 1st T20I v Pakistan: Friday 28 August, Emirates Old Trafford (6.00pm BST) 2nd T20I v Pakistan: Sunday 30 August, Emirates Old Trafford (2.30pm BST) 3rd T20I v Pakistan: Tuesday 1 September, Emirates Old Trafford (6.00pm BST).—APP
