Pakistan and New Zealand in Talks Over Tight Schedule for 2027 Test Series
PCB and NZC are working to finalize dates and venues for a two-match Test series in February-March 2027, with Ramadan and busy calendars leaving only a narrow window.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) are in discussions to finalize the dates and venues for a two-match Test series scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in February and March 2027, according to reports. The series will form part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, and both boards are weighing a crowded calendar before confirming the final schedule.
Scheduling has proven complicated. New Zealand is set to wrap up its home series against Sri Lanka on February 16 in Hamilton, while the 2027 Pakistan Super League is due to begin on March 18, with franchise activities starting three days earlier. Those commitments leave a narrow gap for the two Tests, and reports suggest at least one match is likely to fall during Ramadan.
Both boards have indicated they will announce the confirmed dates and venues once the discussions conclude. The overlapping fixtures mean administrators must balance player workload, travel and the observance of Ramadan while ensuring the series fits within the World Test Championship framework.
On the field, Pakistan has endured a difficult campaign in the current World Test Championship cycle, sitting at the bottom of the points table with two wins and seven defeats from nine matches. The team recently suffered a 3-0 Test series loss to England, a series that also marked Babar Azam's return as red-ball captain in place of Shan Masood.
Pakistan's white-ball form has been stronger. The side won a T20I series against Sri Lanka 2-1 under Sahibzada Farhan and then defeated Sri Lanka in the final of an ODI tri-series that also featured England, with Fakhar Zaman playing a key role.
Pakistan now returns to red-ball cricket with a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, set to be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore from November 9 to 21. That series offers the team a chance to rebuild momentum before attention turns to the New Zealand contests and the remainder of the World Test Championship cycle.
