LAHORE: Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza have been appointed as on-field umpires in all three Tests of historic Pakistan vs Australia series in March.
ICC Elite panelist Aleem and PCB International panelist Ahsan will be accompanied by Asif Yaqoob (1st, 3rd Test) and Rashid Riaz (2nd Test) as Tv umpires. ICC Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle will lead the Playing Control Team during the Test series.
Ahsan, Aleem, Asif and Rashid will share on-field umpires’ responsibilities, while Muhammad Javed Malik will be the match referee for the three ODIs, which will be played on 29 March, 31 March and 2 April in Rawalpindi.
Aleem and Ahsan will reunite for the one-off T20I and Javed will be the match referee. The only T20I will be played on April 5 at Pindi Cricket Stadium.
KARACHI: Mohammad Nawaz sustained a foot injury, hence he has been ruled out of Pakistan’s Test squad for the historic home series against Australia in March.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared that Nawaz will not participate in Australia series due to injury.
Naseem Shah and Sarfaraz Ahmed will be traveling reserves for the series whereas Mohammad Haris has been added to the reserve players list. He, along with Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Abbas, and Yasir Shah have been advised to participate in the Pakistan Cup, which commences on 2 March.
Test players who attended a training camp in Karachi and those not involved in HBL PSL 2022 playoffs will arrive in Islamabad later tonight. After observing three-day room isolation, they will hold a training session on 27 February
Test players involved in the HBL PSL 2022 playoffs will travel to Islamabad in a bubble on 28 February and will participate in a training session on 1 March
Pakistan’s 15-men squad
Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shan Masood (Balochistan) and Zahid Mahmood (Sindh)
KARACHI: Test cricketer Fawad Alam shared that he watched Australia from the stands when last time they came to the country back in 1998.
In a presser here on Wednesday, Fawad said it feels great to represent Pakistan in a historic home series against Australia.
“Last time when Australia played in Pakistan, I watched the match from stands as a fan. This time when they are coming, I am preparing as a player. It is a great feeling,” he said.
“Our people missed watching them in our grounds. They are equally excited for this series and good cricket awaits them,” he added.
Talking about team’s preparations, Fawad spoke about scenario-based training sessions. “Our training camp here was effective for all the players. Saqi Bhai and Yousaf Bhai worked with players, giving different scenarios to them,” the cricketer shared.
“Scenario-based training is not completely different. It is like normal training, the scenario just adds match-like feelings to it. For example, batters get scenarios, bowlers are also given different tasks. So, it is how it goes and helps players in preparations,” he concluded.
It must be noted here that Australia is coming to Pakistan for the first time in 24 years to play three Tests, as many ODIs and one-off T20I.
KARACHI: Pakistan’s bowling coach, Shaun Tait will join the Test squad late due to his father’s demise, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) informed on Tuesday.
In a statement, PCB condoled the passing of Tait’s father and shared that his arrival in Pakistan has been delayed.
“PCB condoles the passing of bowling coach Shaun Tait’s father, due to which his arrival in Pakistan has been delayed. Shaun’s new arrival date will be confirmed in due course,” the statement read.
It must be noted here that Tait was appointed as the Pakistan team’s bowling coach for 12 months. His first assignment will be Pakistan’s home series against Australia.
KARACHI: Left-handed middle-order batter Saud Shakeel has worked hard on his technique and is confident to perform in the historic home Test series against Australia in March.
In an interview released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Saud said he worked on his fitness and technique during time off from cricket due to the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7.
“I worked hard on my fitness and technique back home. During off days from cricket, I attended an unofficial training camp in Lahore where I worked on my fitness and technique,” he said.
“Our training camp here is going well. We are playing scenario-based matches here which are similar to real matches. These are helping us to adjust in the condition and be ready for Test cricket,” he added.
Saud said Australia is a tough opponent but Pakistan play good cricket at home. “I believe we are a good side at home conditions. Australia are tough opponents so good cricket awaits fans,” the cricketer concluded.
MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia (CA) has named 16-men white-ball squad for their upcoming tour of Pakistan.
Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, David Warner and Mitchell Starc will miss the white-ball series due to their participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.
The squad will be led by opener Aaron Finch and includes Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
Australia will be touring Pakistan in March-April this year after a gap of almost 24 years. Apart from three Tests, the Aussies will play three ODIs and one-off T20I.
WHITE-BALL SERIES SCHEDULE:
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: Only T20I, Rawalpindi
MELBOURNE: Australia’s former captain and 1999 World Cup winner – Mark Waugh has termed Pakistan’s leading pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi as a major threat for David Warner ahead of Australia’s historic tour to Pakistan.
Waugh, while speaking to Cricket Australia (CA) discussed Warner’s toil against fast bowlers and claimed that Afridi will put him to the test.
“I don’t think Warner looked quite as comfortable against quick bowling in recent times – Mark Wood definitely unsettled him, and Shaheen Afridi will be a big test for him,” he said.
“It’s a different angle and for him, it’s a little bit like a right-arm quick coming round the wicket – do you play the ball, or do you leave the ball?,” Waugh added.
Waugh also opined about Australia’s tour to Pakistan and the pitches on offer. The former captain went on to term the Green shirts a tougher opposition for Australia as compared to England.
“Pitches in Pakistan are different to that of India as they do not break early nor are dusty. They do not have much grass but help the ball to reverse swing. So I think the pacers in Pakistan are as threatful as the spinners,” he said.
“Pakistan will be a tough opposition for Australia as compared to England,” he concluded.
It is pertinent to mention here that Australia will tour Pakistan for the first time in 24 years to play three Tests, as many ODIs and one-off T20I. The historic tour will take place in March-April this year in Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore.
READ: ‘I don’t copy Dhawan’s celebration style, doing this since school cricket’ Sajid
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Test off-spinner Sajid Khan said he owns his wicket-taking celebration style and does not copy Indian cricketer, Shikhar Dhawan.
In a media talk on the sidelines of Pakistan Test team’s training camp, Khan shared interesting facts about his signature celebration style ‘Tapping a hand on thigh with other hand raised up towards the sky’ which was called a copy of Dhawan’s ‘Kabaddi-style wicket celebration’.
“I am not copying Dhawan, doing this celebration style since my school cricket days. Even, I was fined twice for this in First-Class cricket if you remember,” the spinner told reporters.
Talking about training camp, Khan said they are preparing strongly as Australia are the top side in the world and will give a tough time to the Green Caps.
“We are really excited for this series so does everyone. But, it will not be easy to face Australia even in our home conditions as they are one of the top teams in the world,” he said.
“Our training camp here is going well and we are learning from coaches, the tips and techniques to take on Australia next month. Our target is to beat them and make our position stronger in ICC World Test Championship,” he added.
It is pertinent to mention here that available Test players of Pakistan team are currently undergoing a training camp here at National Stadium. On February 23, these players will travel to Rawalpindi where other Test players, who are busy in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7, will join them.
Meanwhile, Test team players, who were part of the Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators’ squad, will join the training camp here on Wednesday. The two franchises were out of PSL 7’s playoffs race.
KARACHI: Australian team’s assistant and spin bowling coach, India’s Sridharan Sriram pulled out of the upcoming Pakistan tour.
According to Indian reports, Sriram will fly back to India when Australia’s historic Pakistan tour is scheduled. The reports further claimed that Cricket Australia (CA) has contacted former New Zealand’s spinner Daniel Vettori for Sriram’s replacement during Pakistan’s tour.
Reasons for Sriram’s decision are unclear but it has raised concerns for CA as they will have to tour Pakistan without a spin bowling coach.
It is pertinent to mention here that Australia will tour Pakistan for the first time in 24 years to play three Tests, as many ODIs and one-off T20I. The historic tour will take place in March-April this year in Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore.
KARACHI: Test players and coaching staff are busy with scenario-based practice sessions here at National Stadium as the home Australia series is just around the corner.
It looks like this ‘Scenario-based practice’ has become the coaching mantra to tackle Australia in the Test series, starting next month.
Players including Fawad Alam, Azhar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Saud Shakeel are participating in the camp which also includes reserve players – Yasir Shah and Mohammad Abbas.
These players are also joined by some additional players who are there to gain experience from the experienced ones.
The coaching staff headed by Saqlain Mushtaq is creating scenarios for players participating in the camp. Be it fielding, batting, or bowling, these players are trying to get the feel of Test cricketer as they last played red-ball cricket in November-December last year.