Pakistan to host cricket tri-series after 20 years

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it would host a one-day international (ODI) triangular series for the first time in 20 years, with New Zealand and South Africa set to tour the country in February 2025.A PCB statement revealed on Friday that the decision was made during a meeting between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and his counterparts from South Africa and New Zealand in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

"The meeting unanimously decided to play the ODI Tri-series between Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa in February 2025 in Pakistan," said the statement.The PCB added that Pakistan had last hosted a tri-series in October 2004, with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe the opponents on that occasion.

Naqvi added that Pakistan is also looking forward to hosting the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, saying it will be a great pleasure for Pakistan to host the top eight ODI teams on home soil.International teams have long been reluctant to play in Pakistan due to security concerns. In 2002, New Zealand abandoned a Test series in the country after a suicide bomb attack outside their hotel.

In 2009, a bus carrying the Sri Lanka national team was fired upon by gunmen near Gaddafi Stadium in the city of Lahore, after which Pakistan did not play a Test series on home soil until 2019.(UNI)