ST. JOHN'S, Antigua, CMC:
JAMAICA WILL host one Test match and two limited-overs internationals during next year's West Indies home series.
West Indies, the newly-crowned ICC Champions Trophy winners, host South Africa and Pakistan, two of the teams they beat on their way to that triumph, for a combined total of six Tests and eight limited-overs during next year's international home series.
Jamaica will host the second Test of a two-game series against Pakistan from June 3-7, and back-to-back games in the five-match ODI series against South Africa. Those one-day matches are to be played on May 7 and 8.
Sadly, the effects Hurricane Ivan have had on the Queen's Park Stadium in Grenada will not allow it to be used as a venue next year, and this has led to Barbados being given the opportunity to host the additional matches.
TWO TESTS FOR BARBADOS
Barbados, venue for the final of the ICC World Cup 2007, will have the privilege of hosting two Tests and one limited-overs international.
Kensington Oval in Bridgetown will now host the third Test between West Indies and South Africa from April 21 to 25, the third limited-overs international between the two on May 11, and the first Test between West Indies and Pakistan from May 26 to 30.
Strangely enough, St. Lucia's Beausejour Stadium which has been used for Tests over the last two seasons has not been allocated a five-dayer this time, but no reasons were given for this omission.
Instead, St. Lucia, which will host first round matches and a semi-final during the 2007 World Cup, will have to be contented with two limited-overs internationals between West Indies and Pakistan on May 21 and 22.
Guyana's Bourda Oval, overlooked last year as a Test venue, has been brought back into the Test circuit and hosts the first Test between West Indies and South Africa from March 31 to April 4.
ITINERARY:
March 25: South Africa arrives in Guyana
31-APRIL 4: First Test in Guyana
8-12: Second Test in Trinidad
16-17: vs UWI Vice Chancellor's X1 in Trinidad
21-25: Third Test in Barbados
29-MAY 3: Fourth Test in Antigua
5: South Africa practice match in Jamaica
7: First ODI in Jamaica
8: 2nd ODI in Jamaica; Pakistan arrive
11: 3rd ODI in Barbados
11-13: Pakistan vs Carib Beer Series XI in Antigua
14: 4th ODI in Trinidad
15: 5th ODI in Trinidad
15: Pakistan practice match in Antigua
16: South Africa departs in Trinidad
18: 1st ODI in St. Vincent
21: 2nd ODI in St. Lucia
22: 3rd ODI in St. Lucia
26-30: 1st Test in Barbados
JUNE 3-7: 2nd Test in Jamaica
8: Pakistan departs from Jamaica
