England to play Pakistan in Emirates

England have confirmed they will play Pakistan in an away series in the United Arab Emirates this winter.

They will play Pakistan, who are unable to host home series due to security concerns, in three Tests, four one-day internationals and three Twenty20s in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The tour adds to a winter programme that will also see England travel to the sub-continent to meet India in five ODIs and a Twenty20 in October, before a short two-Test series away to Sri Lanka in March-April.

The ECB confirmed the itinerary in a press release yesterday, although the details of the Pakistan tour have not been finalised beyond planning the trip for early in the new year.

The winter schedule, which begins on 4 October when England are due to arrive in India, will provide new limited overs captains Alastair Cook and Stuart Broad with a tough initiation on foreign soil.

Cook, who began his 50-over tenure with victory over Sri Lanka at The Oval on Tuesday, will begin his first away tour as captain with two warm-up games before the series opener in Hyderabad on 14 October. The series will finish at the iconic Eden Gardens - the venue England were denied playing India at during the World Cup after the stadium was deemed not ready. The one-off Twenty20 will also be held at the Kolkata venue.

ECB chief executive David Collier said: "We are very pleased to have agreed an itinerary with BCCI for the forthcoming one-day Series which includes matches in India's major cities.

"With India due to play a NatWest Series here in September, there is bound to be intense interest in the return contest in India this October and we look forward to what should be a fascinating series of one-day encounters between the two teams.

"The remainder of the programme will see England travel to UAE early in the new year to play Pakistan before the team takes on Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series."