ECB unveils 2027 home schedule: Pakistan, Bangladesh, NZ to tour England
Synopsis
England's 2027 home summer is being built around one goal: World Cup readiness. The ECB has lined up Pakistan for five ODIs, Bangladesh for a historic Lord's Test — the first in 15 years — and New Zealand for a September white-ball series directly ahead of the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in Southern Africa. The women's side also host Bangladesh in a dual T20I and ODI series.
Key Takeaways
The ECB has announced England's 2027 home international schedule covering men's and women's cricket.
England Men open with a five-match ODI series vs Pakistan , beginning at the Utilita Bowl on 15 May .
Bangladesh visit for a standalone Test at Lord's from 28 May — the first home Test between the sides since 2010 .
New Zealand tour in September for 3 T20Is and 5 ODIs as part of England's 2027 ICC Men's World Cup preparations.
England Women host Bangladesh in September for a 3-match T20I and 3-match ODI series across six venues.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced England's 2027 home international schedule, with the men's side set to face Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand across formats. The women's team will also be in action, hosting Bangladesh in a white-ball series later in the summer.
England Men's Summer Programme
England's men begin their home campaign with a five-match ODI series against Pakistan, kicking off at the Utilita Bowl on 15 May. The series will then move through Old Trafford, Headingley, Durham, and Sophia Gardens, giving the hosts a thorough 50-over workout early in the season.
Bangladesh will follow with a standalone Test at Lord's, starting 28 May — the first home Test between the two nations since 2010, a gap of more than 15 years. The one-off match ensures red-ball cricket retains its place in what is otherwise a white-ball-heavy summer.
New Zealand Tour and World Cup Preparations
The latter half of the summer is explicitly framed around England's preparations for the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in Southern Africa. New Zealand will tour in September for a white-ball series comprising three T20Is and five ODIs.
The T20Is are scheduled at Durham, Old Trafford, and Sophia Gardens, while the ODI leg will be played at Edgbaston, Lord's, Bristol, Trent Bridge, and Headingley. The spread of venues ensures England's squad gets match practice across a range of conditions ahead of the global tournament.
England Women Host Bangladesh
England Women will also face Bangladesh in September, with a three-match T20I series followed by a three-match ODI series. The T20Is will be hosted at Northampton, Taunton, and Worcester, while the ODIs are scheduled for Hove, Canterbury, and Chelmsford. The series offers England Women another platform to build white-ball momentum ahead of the next phase of the international calendar.
What the ECB Said
ECB Chief Executive Officer Richard Gould underlined the significance of the schedule across both the men's and women's programmes. 'We are also excited to welcome Bangladesh Men for a one-off Test at Lord's, which will be the first time we have played them at home in a Test since 2010 while also hosting Bangladesh Women in a white-ball series. With New Zealand men touring as part of a white-ball series that will be invaluable for our England men's team ahead of the 2027 ICC Men's World Cup, we have a summer schedule that offers high-quality cricket across all formats and for all our England teams and fans,' Gould said in an ECB statement.
Broader Significance
The schedule reflects a deliberate balancing act by the ECB — preserving Test cricket's status through the Bangladesh fixture at Lord's while dedicating significant 50-over and T20 bandwidth to World Cup readiness. Notably, this is the first time England's home summer has been so explicitly structured around an upcoming ICC event. With the 2027 World Cup in Southern Africa on the horizon, the New Zealand series in September will serve as a key barometer of England's white-ball form and squad depth.
Point of View
Though, is the standalone Bangladesh Test at Lord's: it keeps Test cricket visible in a summer that could easily have been all-white-ball, and it closes a 15-year gap that should never have been that long. The women's schedule, while lighter, continues a pattern of pairing men's and women's tours — a positive structural step, though the gap in series size between the two programmes remains notable.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will England host in the 2027 home international summer?
England will host Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand in the men's programme, while England Women will face Bangladesh in a white-ball series. The schedule covers Tests, ODIs, and T20Is across multiple venues.
When is the England vs Bangladesh Test at Lord's in 2027?
The one-off Test between England and Bangladesh at Lord's is scheduled to begin on 28 May 2027. It will be the first home Test between the two nations since 2010, ending a gap of more than 15 years.
How does the 2027 schedule help England prepare for the ICC Men's World Cup?
New Zealand will tour England in September 2027 for three T20Is and five ODIs, providing a high-quality white-ball series directly ahead of the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in Southern Africa. The Pakistan ODI series earlier in the summer adds further 50-over preparation.
What is England Women's schedule for the 2027 home summer?
England Women will host Bangladesh in September 2027 for a three-match T20I series at Northampton, Taunton, and Worcester, followed by a three-match ODI series at Hove, Canterbury, and Chelmsford.
Where will the England vs New Zealand ODIs be played in 2027?
The five ODIs against New Zealand will be held at Edgbaston, Lord's, Bristol, Trent Bridge, and Headingley, while the three T20Is are scheduled at Durham, Old Trafford, and Sophia Gardens.
