Australia positive to play Test matches in Pakistan soon

Pakistan have laid out long term plans to host Australia for a Test series in early 2022, said Pakistan Cricket Board's CEO Wasim Khan. Prior to the Test series, Khan has requested Cricket Australia to send the Australian 'A' side to visit the Asian country, which is now being deemed safe to host international cricket matches.

Australia is scheduled to tour Pakistan for 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, and 2 T20Is in February-March 2022 as per ICC Future Tours Programme. Cricket Australia's CEO Kevin Roberts and Head of Security Sean Carroll recently visited Pakistan to take necessary steps for Australia to return to Pakistan.

Wasim Khan expressed his intention of bringing Test cricket back to Pakistan soon.

A lot of these things are baby steps. We need discuss timings of a potential 'A' tour, the length of the tours and where it's played. It gives us an opportunity to close a gap a little bit because we have two-and-a-half years before Australia are here (in Pakistan).

Kevin Roberts (CA chief executive) and Sean Carroll (CA Head of Security) came out to Pakistan just to have a look and feel and understand the landscape in Pakistan around security. Kevin and I acknowledged that's what we want together over that period of time because CA is committed to see sustainable cricket back in Pakistan. We'll work towards with that.

Australia last toured Pakistan in 1998-99 when they won the Test series by 1-0 in the 3-match series. The 2009 terror attack upon the Sri Lankan team's bus halted Pakistan from hosting any matches at home.

Kevin Roberts, who recently visited Islamabad along with Sean Caroll, was positive about Australia visiting Pakistan.

We share Pakistan’s desire for international cricket to return to their country and we’re encouraged to see Sri Lanka agreeing to a two-Test series there next month. We won’t be rushing into a decision. We will continue to monitor the situation, consult with experts and evolve the discussions from my recent visit to Islamabad. First and foremost in our thinking is the safety of our players and staff.

That said, things appear to be heading in the right direction as Pakistan’s home Test series against Sri Lanka would suggest. I hope we do return there for the sake of world cricket and Australia's important relationship with Pakistan.

Sri Lanka is set to tour Pakistan in December for two Tests to take place in Rawalpindi and Karachi starting mid-December this year. It will be after ten years when Test cricket will return to Pakistan as a part of the ICC World Test Cricket Championship.

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Before Pakistan's home series against Sri Lanka, they will square off against Australia in Gabba (November 21st-25th) and a day/night Test in Adelaide (November 29th-December 3rd).