Pakistan to face Afghanistan, BD in World Cup warm-up ties.

KARACHI -- Pakistan will warm up for the 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup with practice games against Afghanistan and BangAladesh, the game's governing body announced on Thursday.

According to the InterAnational Cricket Council (ICC), Pakistan will play Afghanistan in their opening warm-up fixture at the County Ground in Bristol on May 24 before taking on Bangladesh on May 26 at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

Apart from Bristol and Cardiff, the warm-up matches involving other seven nations are slated to be staged at The Oval in London, and the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. All four venues are among the World Cup venues.

Ashes rivals England and current World Cup champions Australia face other in Southampton on May 25, while India begin their warm-up schedule against New Zealand at The Oval on the same day in their opening matches.

West Indies, winners of the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979, take on South Africa in Bristol on May 26 two days after the Proteas meet Sri Lanka in Cardiff.

The...