Pakistan Cricket Team Prepares for Historic Home Test Season in 2024-25

Pakistan Cricket Team will soon embark on its busiest home season in 20 years, involving seven Test matches during the 2024-25 cycle. It is going to be among the busiest red-ball programs for Pakistan’s home summer in the century, with visits from Bangladesh, England, and the West Indies.

The season begins with Bangladesh playing two of their Tests from 21 August to 3 September in Rawalpindi and Karachi. To add further challenges, the month of August includes harsh weather like high heat, humidity, and monsoon. Only twice has Pakistan played two of their Tests in that month at home, against Bangladesh in 2003.

That will be followed by England’s three-Test series from October 7-28, with games to be hosted at Multan, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. Pakistan will then tour Australia for three ODIs and three T20Is, November 4-18, before a trip to Zimbabwe for three ODIs and three T20Is from November 24 to December 5.

The action continues with a tour of South Africa starting December 10, which also includes T20Is alongside two Tests from December 26 to January 7 in Centurion and Cape Town. Upon return home, Pakistan will host two Tests against West Indies from January 16-28 in Karachi and Multan, a series that was postponed from January 2024.

All seven home Tests will go a long way in deciding where Pakistan’s standing is in the World Test Championship; at the moment, they are in fifth place. This forms quite a contrast from last year when they did not play a single home Test. Their last home Test came against New Zealand in January 2023.

On top of that, Pakistan will host an ODI tri-series involving South Africa and New Zealand during the Multan event on February 8-14 before the Champions Trophy from February 19 to March 9, 2025. India’s participation is still in question as the side has been declining visits to Pakistan since 2015.

But there will be no action at Gaddafi Stadium this season with the venue still out of contention because of renovation work.