Dubai, June 17, 2025: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday released the complete schedule for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle, confirming that Pakistan will play 13 Test matches across six series over the next two years.
However, arch-rivals India and Test giants Australia are notably absent from Pakistan’s itinerary for this WTC cycle — continuing the long-standing freeze on bilateral Test cricket between Pakistan and India due to political tensions. The two nations last met in a Test series back in 2007.
Under the announced schedule, Pakistan will host three series and tour for three, beginning their campaign in October 2025 at home against South Africa. Their away assignments include two-Test tours of Bangladesh and the West Indies, followed by a challenging three-Test tour of England in August–September 2026.
Pakistan’s WTC 2025–27 fixtures:
- October 2025 – 2 Tests vs South Africa (Home)
- March 2026 – 2 Tests vs Bangladesh (Away)
- July 2026 – 2 Tests vs West Indies (Away)
- Aug–Sept 2026 – 3 Tests vs England (Away)
- November 2026 – 2 Tests vs Sri Lanka (Home)
- March 2027 – 2 Tests vs New Zealand (Home)
While the draw appears relatively lighter without India or Australia, Pakistan’s recent performance in Test cricket has raised alarms. The team finished last in the previous WTC cycle (2023–25), with just five wins from 14 matches, highlighting inconsistencies in the longest format.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to confirm a full-time Test captain or head coach, a critical leadership gap as the new cycle looms. The board’s format-specific squad strategy continues, but the red-ball setup remains in flux, with major questions surrounding team structure and long-term planning.
The WTC 2025–27 officially begins today, with the inaugural Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle. For Pakistan, their home series against South Africa in October 2025 will mark the beginning of their redemption journey in Test cricket.
