The Ageas Bowl To Host Behind-Closed-Doors Ireland ODIs & Pakistan Tests

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has today announced that The Ageas Bowl will host fixtures in England Men’s international behind-closed-doors series against Ireland and Pakistan later this summer.

The Ireland squad will arrive in the UK on Saturday 18 July, travelling to The Ageas Bowl. This will be their base before the first Royal London ODI at the same venue on Thursday 30 July. England and Ireland will play two more Royal London ODIs at The Ageas Bowl on Saturday 1 August and the final match of the series on Tuesday 4 August.

Lancashire's Emirates Old Trafford will also host behind-closed-doors matches in both series.

Royal London ODI Series:

1st ODI v Ireland: Thursday 30 July at The Ageas Bowl (2.00pm start D/N)

2nd ODI v Ireland: Saturday 1 August at The Ageas Bowl (2.00pm D/N)

3rd ODI v Ireland: Tuesday 4 August at The Ageas Bowl (2.00pm D/N)

Pakistan, who arrived into the UK on Sunday 28 June have started their preparation ahead of a packed schedule, which consists of three Test matches and three Vitality IT20s. They are undergoing a 14-day isolation period at Blackfinch New Road, Worcester before transferring to Derbyshire’s The Incora County Ground on Monday 13 July to accelerate their preparation ahead of the first Test, which will include two four-day internal warm-up matches.

Emirates Old Trafford will host the first Test of the series starting on Wednesday 5 August. The final two Tests will be played at The Ageas Bowl from Thursday 13 August and Friday 21 August.

The three Vitality IT20s will take place at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday 28 August, Sunday 30 August and the final match of the tour on Tuesday 1 September.

Test Series:

1st Test v Pakistan: 5-9 August at Emirates Old Trafford (11.00am start)

2nd Test v Pakistan: 13-17 August at The Ageas Bowl (11.00am start)

3rd Test v Pakistan: 21-25 August at The Ageas Bowl (11.00am start)

This summer’s remaining scheduled international series for England Women (against India and South Africa) and England Men (against Australia) remain postponed with discussions ongoing to understand the best way to reschedule these matches.

Plans are progressing positively for England Women to host a tri-series against India and South Africa. Any Men’s or Women’s rescheduled matches will be played without spectators.

ECB Chief Executive, Tom Harrison, said:

“Confirmation of these matches against Ireland and Pakistan is another important step for our game as we begin to safely stage international cricket again, but also to minimise the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had, and will continue to have, on cricket at all levels.

“It has taken significant effort and expertise to allow us to reach a position where cricket is now ready and able to return to the field of play from the elite level to recreational cricket.

“We owe a significant debt of gratitude to the players, staff and administrators of the Cricket West Indies, Cricket Ireland, and the Pakistan Cricket Board for their willingness and co-operation to get international cricket back up and running and allow these matches to be staged.

“Sports fans across the world will benefit as international cricket returns to our screens while it will also provide much-needed financial aid at all levels of cricket in England and Wales as we aim to withstand the challenges in front of us.

“It must be reiterated that there is still much work for the ECB and the cricket network to do as we try to plot a path through this pandemic.

“Chief amongst our priorities is to build on our commitment to support and grow women’s cricket and at the elite level discussions continue to progress to determine the best and safest way to host a tri-series against India and South Africa.

“We also continue to explore options for our England Men to play white-ball series against Australia this summer and hope to have news on those series soon.”

Australia ODI & Pakistan IT20 Ticket & Hospitality Purchasers

Following this update on the international schedule and the confirmation that all future matches will be played without spectators, ticket and hospitality purchasers for the England v Australia ODI (Tuesday 14th July) and England v Pakistan IT20 (Thursday 2nd September) originally scheduled to take place at The Ageas Bowl will be contacted via email with options available to them, including ticket exchange and refunds.