Tag: Pakistan vs Australia

LAHORE: Head Coach Pakistan Cricket Team – Saqlain Mushtaq has opened up about the injury and availability of the leg-spinner Shadab Khan and said he will hold a meeting with support staff.

Saqlain, while talking to the media via a video link has opened up about Shadab’s injury, said things are going well for him.

“Things are going great with Shadab, and I’ll have a meeting with the support staff about him,” he said.

“After the meeting, we will be in a position to say something about Shadab,” he added.

The head coach further commented on Pakistan’s triumph in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia, saying that the team took the challenge and made a remarkable comeback in the series.

“Pakistan performed very well in the ODI series and the way the side made the comeback was amazing,” he said.

“We chased down a record total in the second ODI and I think that is because the players took the challenge and stood up for the team,” he added.

Saqlain further claimed that teamwork was the reason behind the home side’s success in the series and also revealed his joy in being the head coach of Pakistan.

“This triumph was the result of excellent teamwork. I feel extremely happy to be the head coach of this Pakistan unit,” he said.

The head coach then went on to comment about the outcomes of the series, saying that many positive aspects emerged during the home challenge against Australia.

“Many positive things emerged for us from this series and we will look to carry them with us,” he concluded.

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LAHORE: Daniel Vettori, Australia’s spin bowling consultant, has claimed that he will speak with the New Zealand players and inform them of how much the Australian cricketers enjoyed their tour to Pakistan.

Vettori, in a video posted on Pakistan Cricket’s social media accounts, remarked on his first visit to the country after an 18-year absence and said it was “very pleasurable,” while also noting that he will be telling the New Zealand cricketers about the experiences of the tour.

“It has been very enjoyable. It has been a long time since Australia and New Zealand teams have been here. I am so glad to get a chance to come over here and experience Pakistan cricket,” he said.

“I think it gives the players and staff a chance to realize their experiences. Once the Australian players go back and talk to their fellows and I talk to the New Zealand guys and give them the words of appreciation about how the Aussies have enjoyed this tour and how safe it has been,” he added.

The former New Zealand off-spinner further shed light on the quality of cricket and said that the ODIs were outstanding.

“I think it is appreciating that cricket is being played and we have seen some quality cricket in the ODIs and I think the crowd enjoyed that,” he concluded.

READ: ‘We’ll be taking good memories from Pakistan’ Andrew McDonald

LAHORE: Interim Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has stated that the touring squad would take many pleasant memories from their historic tour to Pakistan after 24 years.

McDonald, while talking to the media via virtual conference has claimed that the Pakistan tour was outstanding in all aspects and felt really happy to visit the country after a long gap.

“I felt very happy to come to Pakistan after a long time. Pakistan’s tour was amazing in all respects,” he said.

“We will always remember the way Pakistani fans welcomed us. We will be taking a lot of good and pleasant memories with us from this tour,” he added.

McDonald further expressed his joy on the touring side’s triumph in the historic Test series against Pakistan and claimed it was not easy to beat the green shirts in their home conditions.

“I am very happy about the win against Pakistan in the historic Test series. It wasn’t easy to defeat the Pakistan team in their own conditions,” he said.

The interim head coach further commented about the Pakistan team’s performance in the recently concluded ODI series, while also terming Babar Azam as a world-class batter.

“Pakistan played excellent cricket in the ODI series. Babar Azam is undoubtedly a world-class batsman,” he said.

McDonald then also commented on Australia’s white-ball captain Aaron Finch’s dismal performance and said that players go through such times.

“Aaron Finch is lacking the form currently but the players go through such times. I am working with Finch wherever he is having difficulty, and he is working for improvement,” he concluded.

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LAHORE: Pakistan’s left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq has claimed that his whole focus was on his side’s triumph, not on his century during the run-chase in the third ODI of the historic series against Australia, here on Saturday.

Imam, who scored two consecutive centuries against Australia in the first two ODIs, has claimed that his team’s victory was his top priority and did not care about what would have been his third consecutive century.

“My whole focus was on Pakistan winning the series, not on my century,” he said.

“It is satisfying that Pakistan won a [bilateral ODI] series against Australia after a long time,” he added.

Imam, who missed his century by a mere 11 runs in the third ODI, commented about his form and said that he is grateful for finding and maintaining it.

“There is nothing new. I played in my own style. Thankfully, I got the form and maintained it,” he said.

The left-handed opener, while being asked about his critics, said that he does not want to answer them.

“I don’t want to give any answer to the critics. They all are my brothers and Pakistanis,” he said.

Imam then went on to comment about his friendship with the Pakistan captain Babar Azam and said that their friendship benefits them in the field.

“Babar and I are good friends and this friendship helps a lot in the field as we have a firm belief in each other and in our abilities,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that Imam remained the top scorer of the recently concluded ODI series between Pakistan and Australia. He scored 298 runs at an average of 147 including two centuries.

READ: Babar, Imam power Pakistan to historic ODI series win against Australia

LAHORE: Pakistani skipper Babar Azam starred with a century, while Imam-ul-Haq shone with an unbeaten half-century to power the home side beat Australia in the third ODI and win the historic series, here at Gaddafi Stadium.

Set to chase 211, Pakistan comfortably steered to victory in the 38th over with nine wickets in hands, thanks to the brilliant batting performance by Babar and Imam.

The pair of Babar and Imam bolstered the side to a historic victory and added an unbeaten 190-runs partnership for the second wicket.

Babar top-scored for the side with an unbeaten 105 off 115 balls, laced with 12 boundaries, while Imam remained not-out with his 89 off 100 deliveries including six boundaries and a six.

The left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman, on the other hand, managed to score 17 off 12 balls before making his way back to the pavilion in the fourth over.

For Australia, Nathan Ellis managed to take one wicket.

Australia, after being put in to bat first by the Pakistani skipper Babar, could only manage to score 210 before being bowled out in the 42nd over.

Coming out to bat first, the touring side was off to a poor start as they lost their first three wickets for a mere six runs. The openers Travis Head and Aaron Finch made their way back after bagging a duck, while Marnus Labuschagne could score four.

Following the early trouble, the right-handed middle-order batter Ben McDermott looked to anchor the innings with an important 53-runs partnership with Marcus Stoinis before the latter perished after scoring 19.

Soon after Stoinis’s dismissal, McDermott also made his way back in the 16th over after scoring 36.

The wicket-keeper batter Alex Carey and the all-rounder Cameron Green then chipped in and added 81 runs for the sixth wicket. The duo batted brilliantly with Carey scoring a half-century.

The right-handed batter top-score for the side with 56 off 61 balls with the help of six boundaries and a six, while Green could score 34.

Later, in the innings, Sean Abbott stood up with his crucial 49 off 40 deliveries, laced with six boundaries and a six, while the tail-enders perished after scoring cheaply.

For Pakistan, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim Jr starred with three wickets each, while Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up two wickets. Zahid Mehmood and Iftikhar Ahmed, on the other hand, made one scalp each.

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LAHORE: Pakistan have won the toss and opted to field first in the third and final ODI of the ongoing series against Australia, here at Gaddafi Stadium.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf, Zahid Mahmood, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa

LAHORE: Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam and the left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq scored centuries to power the home side beat Australia by six wickets in a record run chase.

Set to chase 349, Pakistan steered to the total comfortably in 49 overs, thanks to the centuries from Babar and Imam.

In the run chase, Pakistani opener Fakhar Zaman and Imam laid a solid foundation for the run chase with a magnificent 118-runs opening stand.

Fakhar fell in the 19th over after scoring 67 off 64 balls, laced with seven boundaries and two sixes, while Imam kept going and went on to smash his second consecutive ODI hundred.

Imam, however, fell briefly after reaching his century, he scored 106 off 97 balls; including six boundaries and three sixes. The left-handed opener also put on a valiant 111-runs partnership with Babar, who top-scored for the side with an astonishing 114 off 83 deliveries, laced with 11 boundaries and a six.

Wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan and the left-handed batter Khushdil Shah also chipped in as the former scored 23, while the latter remained unbeaten with 27.

For Australia, Adam Zampa took two wickets, while Marcus Stoinis and Nathan Ellis made one scalp each.

After being put in to bat by the Pakistani skipper Babar, the touring side was off to a poor start as the left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi removed the Aussie skipper Aaron Finch for a golden duck in the first over.

Australia’s top-order batter Ben McDermott, alongside Travis Head, then anchored the innings and added 162 runs for the second wicket. The pair appeared solid as both scored half-centuries but Head could not manage to convert it into another century as he fell 11 short of his second consecutive century.

The left-handed opener scored 89 off 70 balls with the help of six boundaries and five sixes. McDermott, on the other hand, kept going and went on to smash his maiden ODI century.

The right-handed batter put on an important 64-runs partnership with Labuschagne before making his way back to the pavilion. He top-scored for the side with 104 off 108 deliveries, laced with 10 boundaries and four sixes. Labuschagne, on the other hand, perished in the 41st over after scoring 59.

Following his departure, the right-handed all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and Sean Abbott also chipped in with 49 and 28 respectively to take their side to 348/8 in 50 overs.

For Pakistan, Shaheen led the way with four wickets, while Mohammad Wasim Jr picked two. Zahid Mahmood and Khushdil Shah, on the other hand, made one scalp each.

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LAHORE: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to field first in the second ODI against Australia, here on Thursday.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Khushdil Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim, Zahid Mehmood, Haris Rauf

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Ben McDermott, Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Swepson

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally inducted former captain and legendary leg-spinner, Abdul Qadir, into the Hall of Fame, here on Wednesday.

The legendary leg-spinner, who took a total of368 wickets and scored 1,670 runs during his international career from 1977 to 1993, has been inducted into the elite list of PCB’s Hall of Fame.

Prior to the second ODI between Pakistan and Australia, the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team, Saqlain Mushtaq, presented the late’s son Usman Qadir with a commemorative cap and plaque at the PCB Hall of Fame ceremony held in front of the Abdul Qadir Enclosure.

It is worth mentioning here that Usman is currently part of the national squad for the home series against Australia and received the awards on his late father’s behalf.

READ: PAK vs AUS: Pakistan Cricket Board bans Vuvuzela horns from stadium

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has banned the fans from bringing Vuvuzela horns in the stadium ahead of the second ODI between Pakistan and Australia, here on Thursday.

The PCB has installed a number of banners under the premises of Gaddafi Stadium to prohibit the fans from bringing the vuvuzela horns.

“Horns are not allowed in the stadium,” the statement on the banners read.

According to the details, the cricket board has decided to prohibit the use of horns in response to complaints from match officials and players who claim that the noise of the horns prevents them from concentrating on the game.

It is pertinent to mention here that the second ODI between Pakistan and Australia will be played today here at the Gaddafi Stadium. The touring side lead the three-match series 1-0.

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