Tag: Pakistan Tour of Netherlands

LAHORE: Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam backed the team’s main strike bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi during his recovery from a knee injury and wanted him to be completely fit before the Asia Cup 2022.

Speaking to a scheduled press conference ahead of the national team’s ODI tour of the Netherlands, Babar stated that Shaheen would be travelling with the team so they could assess his fitness as the left-arm pacer is currently undergoing rehabilitation after he pulled an injury during Sri Lanka tour.

“In order to evaluate his fitness, we are taking Shaheen along with the team as we want him to be completely fit before the Asia Cup, ” he said.

The skipper opined on out-of-form Hasan Ali’s exclusion from the national squad and expressed confidence that a strong performance in the domestic season would propel his return to the national side.

“Hasan Ali is a team-man. Obviously, he is out-of-form but he has already demonstrated the type of athlete he is. I am confident that he will make a comeback after the upcoming domestic season,” he added.

While responding to a question on all-rounder Imad Wasim’s inclusion in the team, Babar stated that since Mohammad Nawaz had been performing well in the limited overs format, he would be continuing with the team yet the doors were not closed for Imad as well.

Furthermore, Babar extended full confidence in the middle-order batters, expecting strong performances from Khushdil Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed and Asif Ali in the absence of experienced Shoaib Malik and Mohamad Hafeez.

Moreover, the national team skipper lauded the Pakistani athletes Arshad Nadeem and Nooh Dastgir Butt for winning the gold medals in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games and urged proper training facilities for the national athletes.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan will play a three-match away ODI series against the Netherlands from August 16 to 21. The side will depart for Amsterdam in the wee hours of Friday, August 12.

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LAHORE: Mohammad Nawaz led the bowling attack for the Netherlands-bound ODI squad before opener Imam ul Haq shone with the bat to beat Pakistan Shaheens by 92 runs in the 50-over practice match, here at LCCA ground on Wednesday.

Set to chase a massive 291 runs, Saud Shakeel-led Shaheens fell significantly short of the target and bowled out for 198 as Nawaz starred with his magical spin to bag four wickets.

Abdullah Shafique remained the top scorer for Shaheens with his 44-run knock while Mohammad Haris and Abdul Wahid Bangalzai each scored 27.

During the first inning, the Babar Azam-led side managed 290/6 in their 50 overs thanks to the scintillating unbeaten 82-run knock by Imam whereas the skipper and Fakhar Zaman scored 56 and 45 respectively.

For Shaheens, Abrar Ahmed, Mir Hamza and Zahid Mehmood claimed two wickets each.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will announce the squad for the scheduled ODI series against the Netherlands, next week, sources claimed.

According to the details, the training camp for the away ODI series will be set up here from August 6 to 11. Whereas, the called-up players will report to the National High-Performance Center (NHPC) on August 5.

Reports further suggest that the players will train at the NHPC and Gaddafi Stadium before departing for the Netherlands in the wee hours on August 12.

The Green Shirts will lock horns with the Netherlands in three ODIs, scheduled on August 16, 18, and 21 respectively.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will announce the national squad for the home ODI series against West Indies on May 23.

In a statement released by the PCB, the cricket board shared that the discussions on finalizing the squad are underway and the final squad will be announced on May 23.

The training camp for the forthcoming series will then be held from May 29 to June 01 in Rawalpindi and only selected players will be called from England.

The PCB will later announce the squad for the upcoming Netherlands and Sri Lanka tours on June 13. The green shirts will fly to the Netherlands to compete in a three-match ODI series and a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.

The cricket board also confirmed Rawalpindi as the first option for the home ODI series against West Indies. Whereas, Multan is the only backup option as the pitches are being prepared in Karachi and Lahore.

It is pertinent to mention here that the home series against West Indies will be played without the bio-secure environment and any COVID-19 protocol.

Furthermore, the cricket board also confirmed that the certainty of the national team touring Sri Lanka for the Test series, depends solely on the Sri Lanka Cricket and Pakistan itself will not deny the tour since the country has strong ties with the Island and the tours have been complete even in tense situations in the past.

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