The ICC T20 World Cup is the next biggest cricketing event in the 2024 calendar year. The Pakistan Cricket Team are all geared up for the major event. In fact they are slated to play 12 T20I games in their bid to prepare for the tournament. On the other hand, India will play the World Cup directly after the conclusion of IPL 2024.
For Pakistan, things are at a advantageous point. Pakistan Super League (PSL) is over. And thus the entire attention of the team is pinned on three T20I series as means of preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup. On the other hand, Team India has no international games lined up. After IPL they will fly to USA directly.
Contrasting Scenarios for Pakistan
The Men in Green will start their 1st series against New Zealand. After their -match series vs the Kiwis, they will face Ireland for a 3-match series. And lastly, Pakistan will end their preparation regime with a 4-match series against England. The 12 matches are lined up from 18th April and will continue till May 30th.
Pakistan vs New Zealand T20I series:
18 April: 1st T20I, Rawalpindi
20 April: 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi
21 April: 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi
25 April: 4th T20I, Lahore
27 April: 5th T20I, Lahore
Ireland vs Pakistan T20I series:
10 May: First T20I in Dublin
12 May: Second T20I in Dublin
14 May: Third T20I in Dublin
England vs Pakistan T20I series:
22 May: First T20I in Leeds
25 May: Second T20I in Birmingham
28 May: Third T20I in Cardiff
30 May: Fourth T20I at The Oval, London
For Pakistan the scene is set. PSL is over, and with new skipper Babar Azam taking charge, the Men in Green will look to iron out any weakness that the team has.
No T20I matches for India
For the Indian Cricket Team, the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) is the saving grace. India played their last T20I series before T20 World Cup was against Afghanistan. Following which India played a long 5-match Test series against England. Owing to the congestion of the fixtures, there won’t be chance to play any further matches after the conclusion of IPL 2024.
The Indian players who will not make it to the IPL Playoffs will fly to USA in the first batch. While the remaining players will join after the tournament ends. India will potentially play 2 warm up matches in USA before the tournament kick starts on 2nd June.