England’s first Test series in Pakistan in 17 years will begin in Rawalpindi on 1 December.

Dates for a seven-match T20I series starting next month have already been announced, but an England squad will return for the long-awaited three-match Test series.

“We are pleased that Pakistan and England Test rivalry, which has historically produced close and tight matches, will return to our backyards in December,” PCB director Zakir Khan said in a statement.

The tour opens with the first Test in Rawalpindi on 1-5 December, before Multan hosts the second on 9-13 December. The third and final Test will be in Karachi on 17-21 December.

England last toured in 2005, before Pakistan were forced to play international matches at neutral venues following an attack on the Sri Lanka team’s bus in Lahore in 2009.

International cricket has gradually returned since 2015, but suffered another setback when New Zealand pulled out of a tour minutes before an ODI was due to start in September last year, citing security alerts.

A week later England scrapped tours to Pakistan by both its men’s and women’s teams.

Pakistan are currently fifth on the table and England seventh.

© Agence France-Presse