Pakistan-India battles clipped to two Tests

Pakistan are likely to play only two-Tests against India in each of their three home series in the upcoming Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle, taking the sheen off one of the most exciting contests in world cricket. According to the latest FTP on Cricinfo, Pakistan will play at least 77 Tests until January 2023 but its ties against India, which are subject to government clearance, have been curtailed. Pakistan will also face off against South Africa only twice in the new cycle, despite the two countries signing an agreement to increase ties. South Africa will only host Pakistan in December 2018 for a series of three Tests, five ODI and three T20s. Pakistan will host them just once, for a limited-over series in October 2022. There will be an increase in the number of matches against Australia, currently the top-ranked Test and ODI side. The two teams will be playing as many as seven series in this period, with Pakistan hosting five. Australia will host Pakistan in December 2016 and 2019 for six Tests and six ODIs. Pakistan only feature in three four-Test series. Two of them will be played in England - in 2016 and 2020 - and one in West Indies, in 2017. Against West Indies, Pakistan only play two more Tests - at home, 10 years after they last hosted them for a series.

The FTP will be “binding” only after member nations sign their bilateral agreements by the next ICC Board meeting.