KARACHI, Apr 30 (Agencies): Pakistan on Wednesday announced they will host a five-match Twenty20 international series against Bangladesh next month to begin preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said it was a change to the original plan for Bangladesh's tour, which had been for three one-day internationals and three T20s.
"Since the Twenty20 World Cup is next year, both countries have mutually agreed to play five T20Is to get ready for the mega-event," said a PCB statement.
The first two matches will be played in Faisalabad on May 25 and May 27, with the last three in Lahore on May 30, June 1 and June 3.
Meanwhile, Faisalabad will host international cricket for the first time in 17 years when Bangladesh visit Pakistan for five T20Is in May. A total of 24 Tests and 16 ODIs have been played at the Iqbal Stadium, but this will be the first time it will host T20I cricket when the first two T20Is of the series are played there on May 25 and 27.
The remaining three games will take place at the newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium; it will mark the first time Pakistan's national side will play international cricket here since the redevelopment. All five matches, which take place at the height of the dry summer season, will start at 8pm, when temperatures are relatively more moderate.
The addition of Faisalabad to Pakistan's international venue list makes it the fifth city in Pakistan to host international cricket since it resumed following a near-decade
long hiatus after the terror attacks against the Sri Lankan national side in 2009. It supplements Lahore, Rawalpindi, Karachi and Multan: the four cities where international matches have taken place in during this time.
India and Sri Lanka are due to host the Twenty20 World Cup in February and March next year.
© 2026 - All Rights with The Financial Express
