Pakistan is set to be England’s first opponents of the home international season next year as the England and Wales Cricket Board on Thursday announced that Pakistan will play five one-day internationals (ODI) and a lone T20I against England in England before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

Pakistan will start the England tour with a Twenty20 international on May 5, 2019, which will be played at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff as both countries prepare for the World Cup which starts on May 30, 2019.

The series, scheduled to be played from May 5 to May 19, will provide the Pakistan team with an opportunity to gel in with the conditions in United Kingdom ahead of the World Cup.

The opening match of the ODI series will be played on May 8 at The Oval, followed by the second ODI at Ageas Bowl, Southampton on May 11, third ODI at Bristol on May 14, fourth ODI at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on May 17, and the final ODI at Headingly, Leeds on May 19.