Significant Budget Increases and Development Plans Announced by PCB
The 72nd Board of Governors (BoG) meeting of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took place at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on Saturday.
During the meeting, the PCB’s budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 was approved. A development budget of 12.8 billion rupees was also sanctioned for upgrading the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Rawalpindi Stadium, and National Bank Stadium in Karachi. Additionally, 4.5 billion rupees have been allocated for the 2024-25 domestic cricket season. The budget for women’s cricket saw a significant increase, from 70 million to 240 million rupees. The meeting also approved higher pay in the central contracts for women players.
The PCB decided to maintain 12 cricket grounds that will host domestic matches in the 2024-25 season. Furthermore, the PCB will fund ground staff at 100 different venues nationwide.
One key agenda item was planning for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Members also discussed strategies to enhance the quality of domestic cricket in Pakistan. Chairman Mohsin Naqvi updated the attendees on initiatives to promote and improve women’s cricket in the country.
Via pcb.com.pk
Comprehensive Schedule for Pakistan’s 2024-25 Cricket Season:
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed the men’s 2024-25 home international cricket season schedule. The national team will play three Test series and take part in the first ODI tri-series in 21 years, leading up to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on home ground.
The season will start with a series against Bangladesh, featuring two Tests in Rawalpindi (21-25 August) and Karachi (30 August-3 September). The season will end with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, set for 9 March.
In between, Pakistan will host England for three Tests in Multan (7-11 October), Karachi (15-19 October), and Rawalpindi (24-28 October). The West Indies will also visit for two Tests in Karachi (16-20 January) and Multan (24-28 January). Additionally, New Zealand and South Africa will join an ODI tri-series in Multan from 8-14 February.
Bangladesh last played a Test in Pakistan in February 2020, while England won a three-Test series in December 2022. The 2025 series will be the West Indies’ first Test tour to Pakistan since November 2006, when Brian Lara’s team played against Inzamam-ul-Haq’s men. The last time Pakistan hosted the West Indies for a Test series was in October 2016 in the United Arab Emirates.
Besides the home games, the men’s team will tour Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa from 4 November to 7 January, playing two Tests, nine ODIs, and nine T20Is.
From August 2024 to March 2025, the Pakistan men’s cricket team will play nine Tests, nine T20Is, and at least 14 ODIs. The number of ODIs could increase depending on their performance in the ODI tri-series and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
In addition to international matches, the PCB will plan and deliver a more competitive and expanded PCB Domestic Cricket Season 2024-25. The HBL Pakistan Super League 2025 is set to take place in April/May 2025.
SCHEDULE OF PAKISTAN’S HOME INTERNATIONAL MATCHES IN 2024-25:
Bangladesh tour of Pakistan (Two Tests)
21-25 Aug – First Test, Rawalpindi
30 Aug-3 Sep – Second Test, Karachi
England tour of Pakistan (Three Tests)
7-11 Oct – First Test, Multan
15-19 Oct – Second Test, Karachi
24-28 Oct – Third Test, Rawalpindi
West tour of Pakistan (Two Tests)
16-20 Jan – First Test, Karachi
24-28 Jan – Second Test, Multan
New Zealand and South Africa in Pakistan (ODI tri-series)
8 Feb – Pakistan v New Zealand, Multan
10 Feb – New Zealand v South Africa, Multan
12 Feb – Pakistan v South Africa, Multan
14 Feb – Final, Multan
ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Here is the proposed schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Final approval will be done by the ICC.
February 19: New Zealand vs Pakistan – Karachi
February 20: Bangladesh vs India – Lahore
February 21: Afghanistan vs South Africa – Karachi
February 22: Australia vs England – Lahore
February 23: New Zealand vs India – Lahore
February 24: Pakistan vs Bangladesh – Rawalpindi
February 25: Afghanistan vs England – Lahore
February 26: Australia vs South Africa – Rawalpindi
February 27: Bangladesh vs New Zealand – Lahore
February 28: Afghanistan vs Australia – Rawalpindi
March 1: Pakistan vs India – Lahore
March 2: South Africa vs England – Rawalpindi
March 5 Semi-final: TBC vs TBC – Karachi
March 6 Semi-final: TBC vs TBC – Rawalpindi
March 9 Final: TBC vs TBC – Lahore
SCHEDULE OF PAKISTAN’S AWAY INTERNATIONAL MATCHES IN 2024-25:
Pakistan tour of Australia (three ODIs, three T20Is)
4 Nov – First ODI, Melbourne
8 Nov – Second ODI, Adelaide
10 Nov – Third ODI, Perth
14 Nov – First T20I, Brisbane
16 Nov – Second T20I, Sydney
18 Nov – Third T20I, Hobart
Pakistan tour of Zimbabwe (three ODIs, three T20Is)
24 Nov – First ODI, Bulawayo
26 Nov – Second ODI, Bulawayo
28 Nov – Third ODI, Bulawayo
1 Dec – First T20I, Bulawayo
3 Dec – Second T20I, Bulawayo
5 Dec – Third T20I, Bulawayo
Pakistan tour of South Africa (Three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests)
10 Dec – First T20I, Durban
13 Dec – Second T20I, Centurion
14 Dec – Third T20I, Johannesburg
17 Dec – First ODI, Paarl
19 Dec – Second ODI, Cape Town
22 Dec – Third ODI, Johannesburg
26-30 Dec – First Test, Centurion
3-7 Jan – Second Test, Cape Town
