Windies to play three Tests in Pakistan

Bridgetown (Barbados): West Indies will tour Pakistan in November and December and play three Test matches and five One-Day Internationals.

The venues and exact dates were still being negotiated, said Zorol Barthley, cricket operations manager for the West Indies Cricket Board, on Friday.

The tour will follow the Champions Trophy tournament in India.

"We will be going to Pakistan after we defend our title in the Champions Trophy," Barthley said from his office in Antigua.

Barthley said the One-Day matches in Pakistan would be part of West Indies' buildup for next year's World Cup, which will be played in the Caribbean from March 13 to April 28.

"Every opportunity we get to get in any kind of preparations we can we will use. Pakistan is a tough, strong opponent and they will provide a good test," Barthley said.

West Indies and Pakistan are in Group D of the World Cup.