Pakistan to host England in UAE series in 2012

KARACHI, (Reuters) – Pakistan are to host England in  three tests, four one-dayers and three Twenty20 matches in the  United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January and February.

“The matches will be played at the neutral venues of Dubai  and Abu Dhabi and the itinerary will be announced soon,” the  Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the  matches in its own statement and also announced the itinerary  for five one-dayers and a Twenty20 game during an October tour  of India and for two tests in Sri Lanka in March and April.

Pakistan have not hosted an international match on home soil  since the 2009 attack by gunmen on visiting Sri Lankan  cricketers in Lahore shattered the myth that athletes in the  sub-continent enjoyed immunity of sorts against militancy.
Eight people died in the attack and six members of the Sri  Lanka squad were injured.

The UAE has become a second home for Pakistan who will also  host Sri Lanka there for a test series in October and November.