England add Pakistan series to 2011-12 schedule

England could be in international action every month of next year after adding matches against Pakistan to their 2011-12 tour programme.

England and Pakistan are due to play three Tests, four one-day internationals and three Twenty20s in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The tour adds to a schedule that will also see England travelling to 50-over world champions India for five ODIs and a Twenty20 in October, before a two-Test series away to Sri Lanka in March and April.

Pakistan have not played a major international match in their own country since Sri Lanka's team bus was attacked by armed militants in Lahore in March 2009.

Although no dates for the Pakistan-England matches have been confirmed, it appears they will take place in January and February.

England's 2012 home schedule is due to begin in May against the West Indies, with Australia -- due to play five ODIs -- and South Africa keeping the hosts occupied until September.

After those matches, England are set to travel to Sri Lanka for their World Twenty20 defence in September-October before a four-Test tour of India at the end of 2012.

Both the climax of England's ODI series away to India this year and the subsequent stand-alone Twenty20 will take place at Eden Gardens, one of world cricket's most iconic grounds.

England were unable to play India at the Kolkata venue during the World Cup after the International Cricket Council (ICC) deemed refurbishment work had not been completed in time.

"We are very pleased to have agreed an itinerary with the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) for the forthcoming one-day series which includes matches in India's major cities and will suit the needs of both the England team and our travelling supporters," said England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive David Collier.

"With India due to play a (one-day) series here in September, there is bound to be intense interest in the return contest in India this October and we look forward to what should be a fascinating series of one-day encounters between the two teams.

"The remainder of the winter programme will see England travel to UAE early in the New Year to play Pakistan in all three formats of the game followed by a short break in the UK before the team takes on Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series."

Although the pre-Christmas section of their tour programme is significantly less hectic than last year's equivalent, which saw England in Ashes action in Australia ahead of the World Cup, players who are mainstays in all three formats, such as Graeme Swann and Kevin Pietersen, face a busy 2012.

According to the ICC's Future Tours Programme, next year England will play 12 Tests, 17 ODIs and seven Twenty20s in addition to their World Twenty20 title defence in Sri Lanka.

England's 2011/12 tour schedule:
Tour of India
Oct 4:  England arrive in Hyderabad
Oct 8:  50-over warm-up match, Hyderabad (Gymkhana)
Oct 11: 50-over warm-up match, Hyderabad (Gymkhana)
Oct 14: 1ST ODI v INDIA  (D/N), Hyderabad (RGI Stadium, Uppal)
Oct 17: 2ND ODI v INDIA (D/N), Delhi (Ferozeshah Kotla)
Oct 20: 3RD ODI v INDIA (D/N), Mohali (PCA Stadium)
Oct 23: 4TH ODI v INDIA (D/N), Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium)
Oct 26: 5TH ODI v INDIA (D/N), Kolkata (Eden Gardens)
Oct 29: T20 v INDIA (D/N), Kolkata (Eden Gardens)

England v Pakistan, UAE
ECB and PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) have agreed the tour will comprise three Tests, four ODIs and three T20s to be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Itinerary tbc

Tour of Sri Lanka
Mar 26-30: 1ST TEST v SRI LANKA, Galle
Apr 3-7:   2ND TEST v SRI LANKA, Colombo (venue tbc)
Warm-up itinerary tbc

Note - D/N: day/night match

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