Author: ali.hassan

KARACHI: After numerous wicket-keeping blunders in the first Test, Sarfaraz Ahmed reached National Stadium Karachi on a rest day to hone his wicket-keeping skills ahead of the second Test against New Zealand.  

Sarfaraz, who made a comeback after four years in the opening Test, dropped two catches and missed a clear stumping chance of Kane Williamson at 23, who then went to score a double century.

The 35-year-old wicket-keeper batter, however, put extra effort to round out his deficiencies as he attended Sunday’s optional training session of the Pakistan squad and underwent vigorous practice with gloves on.

Pakistan Cricket Team players are relaxing today but NO OFF Day for Sarfaraz Ahmed@SarfarazA_54#sarfarazahmed #PakvsNZ #HappyNewYear #goodbye2022 pic.twitter.com/IW4Z9K588O

— Ali Hasan 🏅 (@AaliHasan10) January 1, 2023

He also engaged in fitness training while team management including head coach Saqlain Mushtaq and batting coach Mohamad Yusuf were also present on the occasion.

The rest of the team members, however, did not show up at the stadium on the rest day.

The New Zealand squad, on the other hand, held a full-strength training session before the second and last Test of the series, commencing tomorrow.

The series is currently levelled after a draw in the first game.

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KARACHI: The chief of the Men’s Interim National Selection Committee Shahid Afridi on Saturday, inspected the pitch being prepared for the upcoming second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand at National Bank Cricket Arena.

According to the details, Afridi, who was busy with his eldest daughter’s wedding ceremony, got back to work soon after as he visited the National Bank Cricket Arena in the morning and inspected the pitch.

In this regard, the former Pakistan captain also interacted with the groundsmen and instructed them to prepare a more lively and bouncy pitch for the second Test.

چیف سلیکٹر شاہد آفریدی کیجانب سے کیوریٹرز کو اچھی و معیاری پچز بنانے کی ہدایت…#ShahidAfridi #PakvsNz #Karachi@SAfridiOfficial pic.twitter.com/J1LPcfEwhU

— Ali Hasan 🏅 (@AaliHasan10) December 31, 2022

 

Following the inspection, Afridi also had a brief interaction with the media here and emphasized the importance of lively pitches to make sure the safeguarding of the bowlers and also termed it as the only way forward for Pakistan cricket.

“We cannot move forward if we keep playing on the pitches we played in the past. We want to modernize and improvise our cricket. Such pitches can prove to be harmful to the bowlers,” said Afridi.

“Good pitches can be made in Pakistan and we will try to make a bouncy pitch for the second Test,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention that the pitch for the recently-concluded first Test turned out to be a nightmare for the bowlers, especially the pacers as a mammoth 1422 runs were scored in response to 28 wickets.

READ: PAK vs NZ: PCB announces free entry for fans for the second Test

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced free entry for spectators at the second test match between Pakistan and New Zealand that will be played from 2-6 January at the National Bank Cricket Arena Karachi.

According to the PCB, the audience is only required to carry their original National Identity Card to get access to the National Bank Cricket Arena.

“The spectators are only required to bring either their original CNIC or B-form to enter the stadium and they will be able to watch the action free of cost from any of the premium (Imran Khan, Quaid, Wasim Akram and Zaheer Abbas), first class (Asif Iqbal, Waqar Hassan and Majid Khan) and general enclosures (Muhammad Brothers and Intikhab Alam),” said PCB in a statement.

“Shuttles will also be running in between the National Bank Cricket Arena and the Gareeb Nawaz parking area for ease of access into the stadium by spectators,” the statement added.

🚨 Free entry for spectators for the second #PAKvNZ Test

More details ➡️ https://t.co/nw2T5mCfnk#TayyariKiwiHai pic.twitter.com/Cfcb5RgezS

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 31, 2022

 

Notably, the decision came in light of the disappointing turnout of the crowd for the recently-concluded first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand ended in a draw.

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KARACHI: Chairman of the PCB Management Committee Najam Sethi held a meeting with former national cricketers, here at National Bank Cricket Arena on Monday.

The interim PCB head discussed the affairs of domestic cricket in his meeting with ex-cricketers as the board currently run by a newly-appointed set-up is aiming to revive the departmental structure in domestic cricket.

Legendary batter Javed Miandad, Wasim Bari, Tauseef Ahmed, Shoaib Mohammad, Saleem Yousuf and others attended the meeting.

The federal cabinet last week approved repealing of PCB Constitution 2019 and revival of the PCB Constitution 2014 through a circulation summary to pave way for the departmental cricket.

In a string of developments, the federal government appointed a 14-member interim Management Committee with Sethi as its chairman to run the affair of the cricket board for a period of 120 days.

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KARACHI: The trophy for the two-match Test series between Pakistan and New Zealand has been unveiled on Sunday here at National Bank Cricket Arena, ending 32 years of wait for the venue to host Kiwis in a Test match.

The glittering trophy was revealed by Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam and his New Zealand counterpart Tim Southee as both the captains posed with the trophy.

Earlier, both teams held final practice sessions ahead of the first Test; commencing on December 26 (tomorrow). Players from both teams participated in rigorous batting, bowling, and fielding drills, meanwhile the management and captains of the two sides assessed the pitch keenly in order to make their best move in the series.

🏆🇵🇰🇳🇿

Trophy unveiled for KFC Presents DAFANEWS Pakistan Vs New Zealand Test Series 2022-23#PAKvNZ | #TayyariKiwiHai pic.twitter.com/nnhlC69PEK

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 25, 2022

Earlier in a press talk, Pakistan’s captain hoped that his team would make a comeback in the upcoming home Tests after disappointing results in the recently concluded Test series when England handed Pakistan its first-ever 3-0 home series whitewash.

It is pertinent to mention that New Zealand are on a historic tour to Pakistan to play two Tests and a three-match ODI series from December 26 2022 to January 13 2023.

The National Bank Cricket Arena will host all five matches of New Zealand’s historic series after the second Test has been shifted from Multan due to deteriorating weather conditions.

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KARACHI: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has dispelled the impression that he is under any sort of pressure after the recent changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s top hierarchy, saying his sole focus is on the field rather than the developments happening outside. 

“A lot has been changed in the last three to four days, but as a professional, you’ve to face these things,” he said in a scheduled pre-match press talk on Sunday.

“Our job is to put our efforts in the field’ he added. “These are off-field developments while our sole focus is on the ground”

With Pakistan set to engage in a two-match Test series against New Zealand commencing tomorrow, Babar said the final XI for the opening Test has not been finalized.

“The decision on the final XI will be made after consultation with the selectors,” he told.

Pakistan captain informed that he was taken on board on the last-minute changes made in the Test squad, saying he had a discussion with the newly-appointed interim chief selector Shahid Afridi about the selection of the new players.

On Saturday, the interim selection committee Shahid Afridi added Mir Hamza, Sajid Khan and Shahnawaz Dahani to the Pakistan Test squad for the Test series against New Zealand.

While conceding that his team did not perform up to the mark in the recently-concluded Test series against England that ended in a disappointing 3-0 home series whitewash, Babar hoped that his team would make a comeback in the upcoming home assignment.

“I accept that we didn’t play good cricket against England, but we are sure to make a comeback in this series.”

“We played our best eleven against England but obviously when the results do not come in your favour, you face such type of criticism,” he added.

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KARACHI: Pakistan held a full-strength training session on Saturday at the National Bank Cricket Arena before the first Test of the two-match series against New Zealand, starting on Monday.

All the players of Pakistan’s Test squad participated in the first training session held in Karachi with the exception of their skipper Babar Azam, who is currently in his hometown Lahore.

The captain, however, will reach here in the evening.

Meanwhile, a full-strength New Zealand squad was present on the field and carried out robust training sessions that included batting, fielding and bowling drills.

Pakistan head coach Saqlain Mushtaq and Kiwi spinner Ish Sodhi were seen inspecting the pitch and evaluating the conditions of the venue for a long part.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan will take on New Zealand in a two-match Test series. The opening match of the series will commence on December 26 here, while the venue of the second Test is under consideration.

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KARACHI: The second Test of the upcoming historic series between Pakistan and New Zealand is likely to be shifted to here in light of the anticipated unsuitable weather in Multan, sources claimed.

According to the details, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) proposed a request to the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) to change the venue for the second Test and is yet to receive the nod from the touring board.

Notably, flight operations in Multan are already disturbed due to dense smog which can also pose a dent to the playing overs in the city.

The sources further claimed that the PCB is in talks with the NZC regarding the matter while a final decision is likely to be taken by Monday.

It is pertinent to mention that the English team also experienced a flight delay on their way back from Multan to Karachi due to dense smog in the prior-mentioned city.

Meanwhile, Karachi is already poised to host the first Test of the home series against New Zealand, marking the first after a gap of 32 years.

The National Bank Cricket Arena here will also host the three-match ODI series between the two countries.

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KARACHI: New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has expressed that his side will not underestimate Pakistan in their home country despite their recent failure against England that ended in a 3-0 series whitewash. 

Stead said that Pakistan could not be beaten easily and it was unfortunate for the side that they lost some of their key players because of the injuries during the England series.

“We are more focused on what we can do, so I expect there are gonna be tight Test matches, hard-fought and may be very very close, like the last ones versus England,” he said in a press talk on Friday.

New Zealand will play a Test series against Pakistan for the first time on the latter’s home soil after 20 years, starting on December 26 with the first Test in Karachi.

As New Zealand kicked off their training today at National Bank Cricket Arena, Stead said the training would be important for them in the next few days, adding for most of the players in their group it was their first time in Pakistan.

“We know that our rivalry with Pakistan is fantastic. It’s always friendly on the field but fearlessly competitive” he maintained.

Talking about the conditions in Pakistan, he mentioned that they were very different from the ones in New Zealand, saying: “We picked out squad thinking that a leg spinner (Ish Sodhi) will be important, obviously (after) seeing Abrar (Ahmed) and (Zahid) Mahmood bowling well for Pakistan in the recent series.”

The New Zealand head coach further expressed that spinners would play a major in the series but there are also sign of early reverse swing, so honing the skills in those areas would be vital for them.

With Tim Southee taking the reign of the Test side following Kane Williamson’s decision to step down as New Zealand captain after being in charge for around six years, Stead said the new captain had a great cricketing brain.

“Looking forward to seeing how he (Southee) manages this side through this series, particularly as his first” he added.

New Zealand Test squad for Pakistan: Tim Southee (c), Michael Bracewell, Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young.

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KARACHI: New Zealand squad has begun their training on Friday, a day after they arrived in Pakistan, for the first Test of the two-match series against the home side commencing on December 26. 

Kiwis under the leadership of captain Tim Southee held their first training session at National Bank Cricket Arena, the venue for the opening Test.

According to the details, the coaches and team management assessed the pitch keenly, which will host its second Test match within a week. Earlier England played their final Test of the three-match series in Karachi and thrashed the home team comprehensively by eight wickets inside four days.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan squad will report at the team’s hotel today and will begin their training on Saturday.

The Karachi Test, starting on Monday, will mark the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand on the former’s soil after 20 years. The trophy unveiling ceremony for the Test series will be held on Sunday.

Test Squads

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Zahid Mehmood

New Zealand: Tim Southee (c), Michael Bracewell, Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young.

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