Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed to drop One Day Internationals (ODIs) from their upcoming bilateral series in May and July, replacing them with Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) as part of their preparation for the T20 World Cup in 2026. The decision was confirmed by Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Director of Media and Communications, Sami Ul Hasan, on Sunday.
The adjustment aligns with both teams’ focus on the global tournament, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka in February 2026. Bangladesh was originally scheduled to tour Pakistan in May for three ODIs and three T20Is as part of the Future Tours Programme (FTP). However, the series has now been revised to feature five T20Is.
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Similarly, Pakistan’s July tour of Bangladesh, initially set to include three ODIs outside the FTP schedule, will now be a three-match T20I series. This change allows both teams to focus on honing their skills in the shorter format, in anticipation of the T20 World Cup.
Before the global tournament, Pakistan and Bangladesh will also compete in the T20-format Asia Cup, which is scheduled to be held in India in September.
Currently, Pakistan is engaged in a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, where they lead 3-1, with one match left to play. Following that, the teams will participate in a three-match ODI series from March 29 to April 5.
