NEW DELHI: Pakistan's white-ball tour of the Netherlands, scheduled for 2024, has been postponed upon the request of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
Originally, the Men in Green were slated to engage in a three-match T20I series against the Netherlands in May 2024, forming part of a broader European tour that included three T20Is against Ireland and four against England. These fixtures were strategically arranged ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup scheduled to commence in June 2024, hosted in the West Indies and the USA.
Roland Lefebvre, the high-performance manager of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Board (KNCB), confirmed the cancellation of the tour, citing the PCB's concerns about scheduling clashes and player workload.
Lefebvre expressed understanding of the PCB's predicament, acknowledging the demanding playing schedules and the paramount importance of player well-being. He conveyed the KNCB's willingness to reschedule the series at a later date, emphasising the positive relationship between the two cricket boards.
The PCB, in a statement to ESPNcricinfo, acknowledged that the postponement was at their request. They reassured that efforts were underway to identify an alternative window for the series.
This postponement comes as a setback for the Dutch side, as the series against a Full Member side like Pakistan would have been valuable preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup. Notably, the bilateral T20I series between Pakistan and the Netherlands is yet to take place, with their encounters limited to previous T20 World Cup meetings.
(With inputs from ANI)
