[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Pakistan is set to embark on a tour Down Under to compete against Australia for the coveted Benaud-Qadir Trophy. Cricket Australia (CA) recently revealed that the Pakistan Cricket team will engage in a four-day red ball fixture against the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval in Canberra from December 6 to 9, 2023. This match serves as a crucial preparation for Pakistan before their upcoming three-match Test series against Australia.
This encounter marks the third occasion that Pakistan will face the Prime Minister’s XI, with previous meetings occurring in 1990 and 2005. Scheduled in the week leading up to the first Test between Pakistan and Australia at Perth Stadium on December 14, it also signifies the Men in Green’s inaugural Test appearance at the venue. Subsequently, the teams will clash in the Boxing Day Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30, followed by the third and final match at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3, 2024.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his anticipation for the match, praising Pakistan as a cricketing powerhouse. He conveyed excitement about the clash between the PM’s XI and the talented Pakistani squad in Canberra, reminiscing about past cricketing legends like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
George Bailey, the Chair of Selectors at Cricket Australia, underscored the match’s significance in the context of the Australian Men’s Test team’s evolution during the summer season. He emphasized the rarity and seriousness of opportunities to face international opposition, stating that a strong and highly talented squad would be selected.
The Benaud-Qadir Trophy, inaugurated in 2022 during Australia’s tour to Pakistan after 16 years, saw Pat Cummin’s side clinch the first iteration by winning the series 1-0, culminating in a victory over Pakistan in Lahore in the third and final Test.
The schedule for the upcoming matches is as follows:
- Four-day match: PM’s XI vs Pakistan – December 6-9: Manuka Oval, Canberra
- 1st Test – Australia vs Pakistan – December 14-18: Perth Stadium
- 2nd Test – Australia vs Pakistan – December 26-30: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
- 3rd Test – Australia vs Pakistan – January 3-7: Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)
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