Pakistan to play five ODIs in England in 2027

Pakistan’s men’s cricket team will tour England in May 2027 for a five-match one-day international series, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board, giving both sides a significant early opportunity to fine-tune preparations for the next ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The PCB said the series will begin in Southampton on May 15 and conclude in Cardiff on May 26. Manchester is scheduled to host the second match on May 19, followed by Leeds on May 21. The final two ODIs are set for Chester-le-Street on May 23 and Cardiff on May 26. The schedule adds another high-profile white-ball assignment to Pakistan’s growing international calendar. The men’s team is currently on tour in the West Indies for a two-Test series, and the PCB also said Pakistan will head to England again later in 2027 for a three-match Test series from August 19 to September 13. For both Pakistan and England, the ODI series carries more than just bilateral importance. The board said it will help the teams prepare for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, which is due to be played in October and November in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. That timing should make the five matches a useful barometer for form, squad balance and conditions in the lead-up to the tournament. Pakistan are currently ranked fifth in the ICC men’s ODI rankings, with England just behind them in seventh place, setting up what should be a closely contested series on paper. Rankings can shift quickly, but the current gap suggests both teams will see the tour as a chance to sharpen combinations against strong opposition. There is also some recent history to consider. The PCB noted that Pakistan last played an ODI series in England in 2021, when Babar Azam finished as the leading scorer for the visitors with 177 runs across three matches, including a score of 158 in the final game. That series remains a useful benchmark for how Pakistan have previously handled English conditions in the 50-over format. No squad details have been announced yet, and it remains to be seen which players will be available by then or how either side will approach the series selection-wise. Even so, the confirmation of five ODIs across five venues gives fans and selectors a clear picture of a busy 2027 calendar and an important run-in to the World Cup. For supporters, the series also offers the appeal of a long-form bilateral contest rather than a short visit, with enough matches to test depth, momentum and adaptability. For Pakistan, it will be another chance to measure progress overseas. For England, it is a timely examination against a side that continues to be a regular threat in white-ball cricket.

Source: Dawn Sport - https://www.dawn.com/news/2017790/pakistan-to-tour-england-next-year-for-5-match-odi-series