LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced that Australia will tour Pakistan later this month for a three-match One-day International (ODI) series, another step forward in the revival of bilateral cricket ties between the two countries ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
According to the PCB, the Australian squad will arrive in Islamabad on May 23. The opening ODI will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on May 30, while the second and third matches will be held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on June 2 and 4, respectively. All matches will start at 4:30pm local time to avoid the peak afternoon heat.
The revised timing is expected to provide some relief to spectators, particularly in Lahore where most enclosures at the Gaddafi Stadium remain without shades. During the summer season, spectators can comfortably occupy only the seats in the western-end enclosures, while the eastern-end stands remain exposed to direct sunlight at the start of play.
Despite recurring complaints, the PCB has shown little interest in installing shades over all enclosures. Spectators have continued to face inconvenience during rain and extreme heat since the stadium was revamped in 2025 for the ICC Champions Trophy. During rain interruptions, fans are often forced to leave their seats and gather beneath the stands for shelter.
This will be Australia’s first bilateral ODI series in Pakistan since March-April 2022. The visitors had earlier toured the country in January-February this year for a T20 International series, which Pakistan won 3-0 at the Gaddafi Stadium. Australia also featured in the Champions Trophy, recording a notable five-wicket win over England in Lahore.
The forthcoming series carries significance for both teams as they prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup, to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October next year.
Australia, the defending world champions, will seek to fine-tune their preparations against a strong Pakistan side, which has traditionally enjoyed success in home ODI conditions. Pakistan, meanwhile, will view the series as an important opportunity to test combinations and build momentum ahead of the global event.
Cricket relations between Pakistan and Australia have improved steadily in recent years after a prolonged period of limited bilateral engagement because of security concerns.
Pakistan’s successful hosting of the T20I series earlier this year and the Champions Trophy highlighted improved security arrangements and infrastructure, encouraging greater international participation.
Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026
