West Indies Women are set to tour Pakistan for a three-match T20I series in Karachi as the Pakistan Cricket Board continues its efforts to bring regular international cricket back to country.

From January 31 – February 3, West Indies will play three T20Is in Karachi’s Southend Club. The teams will then travel to Dubai for the three ICC Women’s Championship ODIs, starting from February 7.

Since the attack on the Sri Lankan men’s team bus in 2009, international cricket has largely boycotted the country. That stance has softened in recent years. Zimbabwe played T20Is in the country in 2015, and more recently, the ICC put together a World XI to tour Pakistan for three T20Is in September 2017. Sri Lanka and West Indies have also played T20Is in the country thereafter.

The last time a women’s team toured Pakistan was in late 2015, when Bangladesh played two ODIs and two T20Is. Those were the only two women’s T20Is ever played in Pakistan, but that figure is set to more than double, albeit under the same high-level security that was employed for the men’s series.

“Following the successful hosting of the Windies men’s team in Pakistan in April 2018, we have confirmed to the PCB that our Windies Women’s squad will now also play a three-match T20I series in Karachi,” confirmed Johnny Grave, the CWI chief executive.

“This tour is a further major step for our friends at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to bring their cricket back home, and we are pleased that our players and support staff have recognised this and agreed to play the T20Is in Pakistan.

“The security plan arranged by the PCB is the exactly the same level that the Windies Men’s team had last year.”

Despite the arrangements, captain Stafanie Taylor has opted out of travelling to the country and the board has respected her decision. Merissa Aguilleira will captain the side for the T20Is in her stead, with Taylor set to take the reins back for the ODIs in Dubai.

“We made it very clear to the players and support staff that should any of them have any personal reservations about this Tour, that we fully understand and accept their position,” said Grave.

Squad: Stafanie Taylor (capt, ODIs only), Merissa Aguilleira (T20I capt), Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Natasha McClean, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Rashada Williams

Itinerary

January 31 – 1st T20I, Southend Club, Karachi.
February 1 – 2nd T20I, Southend Club, Karachi.
February 3 – 3rd T20I, Southend Club, Karachi.
February 7– 1st IWC ODI, Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
February 9 – 2nd IWC ODI, ICC Academy, Dubai
February 11 – 3rd IWC ODI, ICC Academy, Dubai