ECB in talks with PCB for five-match Test series in next WTC cycle

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is planning to extend their home five-match Test series to teams including Pakistan and South Africa from the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. 

England to expand five-match Test series 

The board has reportedly reached out to Pakistan, who have not been a part of any five-match red-ball series since 1992, to discuss the matter.

England, too, haven’t faced any team other than India and Australia in such series since 2009. To balance their schedule, the team could move away from playing more than one away Test per series against teams like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. However, ECB is looking to increase their white-ball games with these countries, which are lucrative for the host teams.

This decision comes in the wake of ICC allowing one-off Tests to be a part of the WTC schedule, as previously teams were required to play at least two longer-format games for the series to be a part of the cycle.

Pakistan could host England for five-match series

Additionally, ECB are also in talks to arrange a five-match Test tour to South Africa in 2032, with Pakistan as an alternative if the deal falls through.

Pakistan and England are set to play three Test matches across three venues in August this year. Both teams have played each other in all three WTC cycles so far, with England winning two out of three series. This series will be their fourth WTC encounter.

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