BRIDGETOWN: West Indies and Pakistan have agreed to play a revised four-match Twenty20 International series, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced on Sunday.

       The two boards — who had initially planned a five-match T20 series — were forced into the alteration to the scheduled tour dates after West Indies’ current ODI series against Australia was rocked by a positive Covid-19 test which saw Thursday’s second match suspended.

       It was finally played on Saturday with the third and final match pushed back to Monday — one day before the scheduled opener against Pakistan.

       The revised dates allow for an opener in Barbados on Wednesday with three further matches in Guyana.

       “Together with the PCB [Pakistan Cricket Board], CWI have examined various scenarios, and we jointly agreed that the best solution in the present circumstances is to cancel the first T20 International and play a four-match series starting on Wednesday and keep the rest of the tour schedule unchanged,” said CWI president Ricky Skerritt. “Both teams are in the final stages of preparing for the ICC T20 World Cup, so we anticipate an exciting and entertaining series of games.”

       The T20 World Cup begins in the Gulf in October with West Indies looking to retain the title.

       The teams will also play two Tests as part of the new 2021-2023 World Test Championship.

       Revised schedule:

       July 27: First Twenty20 International (Bridgetown).

       July 31: Second Twenty20 International (Providence).

       Aug 1: Third Twenty20 International (Providence).

       Aug 3: Fourth Twenty20 International (Providence).

       Aug 12-16: First Test (Kingston).

       Aug 20-24: Second Test (Kingston).

       Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2021