The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the Pakistan Shaheens will embark on a tour of England later this year, following a training camp scheduled to commence in Karachi on July 10.
While the board did not disclose specific details of the tour, such as the number of matches or the formats to be played, it said the names of shortlisted players would be shared in due course.
The announcement was made as part of the PCB’s statement regarding a broader Skills Development Camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore, which is set to begin on June 16.
“Meanwhile, camp for Pakistan Shaheens ahead of their tour to England will commence in Karachi from 10 July,” the statement read.
The upcoming tour will be the Shaheens' first major overseas assignment since their participation in the Top End T20 Series in Darwin, Australia, in August last year. That series featured notable opposition including Big Bash League franchises Melbourne Renegades and Adelaide Strikers, as well as a Bangladesh High-Performance XI.
Earlier this year, the Shaheens were also in action in a triad of warm-up fixtures organised by the PCB in preparation for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. The matches, played in February, saw three separate squads take on Afghanistan, South Africa, and Bangladesh.
In their opening fixture on February 14, the Shaheens delivered a comprehensive 144-run victory against Afghanistan at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. However, the two subsequent matches—held simultaneously on February 17—produced mixed results.
The Mohammad Haris-led side overpowered Bangladesh in Karachi with a seven-wicket win, chasing down the target with 91 balls to spare. Conversely, the team led by Mohammad Huraira fell short against South Africa, losing by three wickets in a tightly contested fixture in Dubai. South Africa later advanced to the semi-finals of the eight-team competition.
The PCB has yet to confirm the composition of the coaching staff or itinerary for the England tour. However, sources within the board suggest that the matches may be aimed at providing international exposure to the country’s emerging talent pool.
The Shaheens, considered the second-tier national side, have increasingly been used to groom upcoming players and offer competitive opportunities outside the main national squad. The England tour is expected to be a continuation of that policy, especially in light of the Champions Trophy preparations and the long-term goals of developing bench strength.
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