After the seemingly non-stop hustle and bustle of T20 cricket following two World Cups within 12 months, it's time for a breather in the form of a three-match Test series in the subcontinent.
England are all set to play a Test series in Pakistan 17 years after last touring the country in 2005, marking another major milestone for the sport in Pakistan as it returns to a prominent position in international cricket's calendar.
The tour is a continuation of England's visit before the T20 World Cup in the form of a seven-match T20 series - which England won. Jos Buttler's team then went on to beat Pakistan in the T20 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Pakistan will therefore have a point to prove when the first Test begins in Rawalpindi on December 1. Multan will host the second Test from December 9 before Karachi hosts the final match from December 17.
However, strike bowler Shaheen Afridi will miss the three-match Test series. Also missing is out-of-form leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who has taken 45 England wickets in nine Tests since his debut in 2014.
Afridi, 22, aggravated a knee injury during the final of the T20 World Cup. He also had his appendix removed later - a surgery that usually needs at least three weeks of recovery.
-
Ben Stokes and Liam Livingstone of England celebrate victory in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Final against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 13, 2022. Getty -
England players celebrate with the trophy. AP -
England celebrate winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final. Getty -
Ben Stokes and Sam Curran of England celebrate. Getty -
Ben Stokes and Sam Curran of England celebrate. Getty -
England's Ben Stokes and Liam Livingstone celebrate. AFP -
England supporters celebrate victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. AFP -
Pakistan players wait for presentation ceremonies after losing to England. AP -
Alex Hales, Ben Stokes, Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan of England celebrate. Getty -
Ben Stokes of England celebrates. Getty -
Ben Stokes of England celebrates victory. AFP -
Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi is injured after taking a catch to dismiss England's Harry Brook. AFP -
Shaheen Afridi of Pakistan receives treatment for an injury. Getty -
Ben Stokes of England hits out. Getty -
Adil Rashid of England celebrates after taking the wicket of Mohammad Haris of Pakistan. Getty -
Adil Rashid of England takes a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Babar Azam of Pakistan. Getty -
England's Moeen Ali bats against Pakistan. AP -
Pakistan's Haris Rauf celebrates the wicket of England's Jos Buttler. AFP -
Sam Curran of England celebrates after taking the wicket of the Muhammad Rizwan of Pakistan. Getty -
Pakistan captain Babar Azam bats. EPA -
Pakistan's Shan Masood is beaten for pace. AFP -
Shan Masood of Pakistan receives medical attention after being hit on the helmet. EPA -
Jos Buttler of England leaves the field after being dismissed. EPA -
Shadab Khan of Pakistan hits out on his way to making a score of 20. Getty -
Shan Masood of Pakistan plays a shot. EPA -
England's Ben Stokes plays a reverse sweep. AFP -
Pakistan and England supporters at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. AP -
England's Sam Curran bowls. AFP -
Ben Stokes of England plays a stroke. Getty -
Harry Brook of England dives to make his ground. Getty -
England's Ben Stokes congratulates teammate Sam Curran at the end of his bowling spell. AP -
England captain Jos Buttler plays a ramp shot. AFP -
England's Chris Jordan celebrates with teammate Ben Stokes after dismissing Pakistan's Shadab Khan. PA -
England's Ben Stokes. PA -
Pakistan's Mohammad Wasim bowls. AFP -
Shadab Khan of Pakistan celebrates after taking the wicket of Harry Brook of England. Getty -
Naseem Shah of Pakistan appeals. Getty
