Tag: Pakistan vs Bangladesh

Pakistan Test team vice-captain Saud Shakeel opened up regarding the management’s plans to manage Shaheen Afridi’s workload, terming the latter as “the main bowler”.

Last week, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled a new-look 17-member Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh.

The squad announcement saw young middle-order batter Saud being promoted to the vice-captaincy role.

Saud Shakeel took over the role from ace pacer Shaheen Afridi, with selectors emphasizing the need to manage the pacer’s workload management, considering the national men’s team’s upcoming busy schedule.

Meanwhile, Shakeel, who is set to captain Pakistan Shaheens in the first red-ball fixture against Bangladesh A, interacted with the media in Islamabad on the eve of the series.

He was asked about the team management’s strategy for managing Shaheen’s workload. Saud, however, put back the question, stating, “Shaheen can tell you better about this. It is none of my concern.

“Shaheen is our main bowler, so the team management will make a decision that is best for him.”

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Pakistan Shaheens will face Bangladesh ‘A’ in the first four-day match at the Islamabad Club from 13-16 August. The second four-day match will be played at the same venue from 20-23 August.

Both Pakistan Shaheens and Bangladesh ‘A’ have packed their sides with players who will feature in the ICC World Test Championship fixtures, to be played in Rawalpindi and Karachi on 21-25 August and 30 August-3 September, respectively.

Test probables in the Pakistan Shaheens are Saud Shakeel (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub and Sarfaraz Ahmed, while Hasan Mahmud, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nayeem Hasan and Zakir Hasan are Bangladesh ‘A’ players who will join the Test side following the four-day match.

Pakistan Shaheens squad (for first four-day match):  Saud Shakeel (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rameez Jnr, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saad Baig (wicket-keeper), Saad Khan, Saim Ayub, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Umar Amin

Bangladesh ‘A’ squad (for first four-day match):  Anamul Haque (captain), Hasan Mahmud, Hasan Murad, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mominul Haque, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nayeem Hasan, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Ruyel Miah, Sahadat Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Zakir Hasan.

READ: Pacer withdrawn from Pakistan Shaheens’ squad for Bangladesh A series

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Test squad on Monday, held first net session at Pindi Cricket Stadium for the upcoming two-match home series against Bangladesh.

According to the details, the national Test team’s players participated in several batting, bowling and fielding sessions under the supervision of coaches including head coach Jason Gillespie.

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood, as well as senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi, participated in the practice session.

Abrar Ahmed, Abdullah Shafiq, Salman Ali Agha, Khurram Shahzad, and Aamer Jamal partook in the training.

Yesterday, the Pakistan Test squad participated in a two-hour-long training regime to hone their fielding skills.

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Meanwhile, eight players of the Test squad are part of Pakistan Shaheens’ squad for the first four-day match against Bangladesh A.

Saud Shakeel will lead the Shaheens squad, which also features Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub and Sarfraz Ahmed.

The players in the Shaheens’ squad will join the Test squad after the conclusion of the first four-day match, which is scheduled to be played from 13 August to 16 August.

The Test series between Pakistan and Bangladesh will kick off on 21 August in Rawalpindi with the first Test, that will run till 25 August, while the second match will be played from August 30 to September 3 in Karachi.

Pakistan squad for Test series against Bangladesh

Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

READ: PCB announces ticket prices for Pakistan-Bangladesh Tests

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has opened up about the strategy of his side in the red-ball cricket going forward.

Shan Masood-led side is scheduled to play a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, as part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-2025.

Currently, Pakistan are ranked fifth in the WTC points table. They are set to play nine Test matches in the current cycle.

The series against Bangladesh will be followed by three home Tests against England. Pakistan will then visit South Africa for two matches before returning home to play two games against West Indies.

Shan Masood, while addressing a news conference, shared that his side is aiming to play with positive intent to win matches, which will help them improve their standing in the WTC.

“If we need to compete in the World Test Championship, we need to secure victories, which requires showing intent and positivity in every aspect of the game, whether it’s batting, bowling, or fielding,” Masood said.

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“Our focus will be on achieving the best results for Pakistan. We need to win a significant number of the nine upcoming Test matches,” he added.

The captain also highlighted the advantages that work in his team’s favour as they prepare for a packed Test schedule. Despite changes in management, the core players remain the same, which contributes to team stability.

Additionally, he emphasized that Pakistan will have the home advantage in seven out of nine games, which is a significant positive for the team.

“There have been changes in the management, however, the squad is almost the same,” Shan stated. “We have worked on changing the mindset to play according to the situation.”

“The positive thing is that we are playing at home and our players will be familiar with the conditions. We need to take advantage of it, but the key will be to handle mental and physical pressure,” he concluded.

The first Test of the two-match series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is scheduled to be played from 21 to 25 August in Rawalpindi, while the second match will be played from August 30 to September 3 in Karachi.

Pakistan squad for Test series against Bangladesh

Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Shaheen Shah Afridi

READ: Match officials for Pakistan Shaheens-Bangladesh A series announced

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the Bangladesh men’s cricket team will arrive early in Pakistan to prepare for the two-match Test series, scheduled to commence on August 21.

The two-match series is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) and will be played in Rawalpindi and Karachi from 21-25 August and 30 August-3 September, respectively.

Originally scheduled to arrive on 17 August in Islamabad, the Bangladesh team will now land in Lahore on the morning of 13 August.

Bangladesh team will train at the Gaddafi Stadium from 14-16 August before travelling to Islamabad on 17 August to hold practice sessions at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 18-20 August.

The PCB had extended an invitation to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to send their team earlier, ensuring they have adequate and fair training opportunities ahead of the ICC World Test Championship matches.

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“Sports is not only about winning and losing, it’s also about comradery. I remain confident that the extra training sessions in Lahore will allow the players to showcase their best skills and talent on the global stage,” said PCB Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer.

“We are delighted that the BCB have accepted our offer and we look forward to welcoming the Bangladesh men’s cricket team in Lahore on 13 August with our traditional hospitality. This will allow them to have three additional days of training and practice at one of our iconic venues before proceeding to Islamabad as originally planned,” he added.

BCB Chief Executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury thanked the PCB for providing their national team with an ample opportunity to train adequately for the upcoming series.

“We thank the PCB for giving the Bangladesh cricket team the opportunity to have additional training in Pakistan. This will certainly help the players to acclimate to the conditions and prepare better for the ICC World Test Championship series.”

This will be Bangladesh’s first tour of Pakistan since 2020 when they played three T20Is in Lahore and one-off Test in Rawalpindi. Bangladesh also played two ACC Asia Cup 2023 matches in Lahore against Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Bangladesh is one of the seven sides that will feature in next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. The other six sides are Afghanistan, Australia, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa.

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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali sparked a debate with his remarks about Babar Azam’s performance with the bat, suggesting the latter to step down as white-ball captain to excel as a player.

Babar has been far from his bat in international cricket as the right-handed batter last scored a century in 2023 which came against Nepal during the Asia Cup.

Basit Ali termed the upcoming two-match home series against Bangladesh a pivotal opportunity for Babar Azam to prove his mettle.

He, however, suggested Babar relinquish the national men’s team’s captaincy to focus more on his batting.

“Babar Azam has made the last century against Nepal in the Asia Cup. It is a great chance for him to prove himself. To come back in the Test Rankings,” said Basit.

“And he is not the captain. It is a very good thing. And he should quit the white-ball captaincy as well. He should focus on his batting. He is a premium batsman of Pakistan. So, he should perform well,” he added.

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Basit Ali then went on to advise the current national Test team captain Shan Masood, urging him to make bold decisions and prioritize team over individual preferences.

“In the last 2-3 years, we have played a lot of talkative cricket. We will win the World Cup. We will win the Asia Cup. We will play in the finals in India. It was all talkative cricket. Now, it is time to deliver. Shan Masood becomes the Test captain again after the Australia series, so he will now have to make his own decisions,” he said.

“He should not think like that if he is a premium batter or a premium bowler, then I will give him a soft corner. No. He must take decisions that are good for Pakistan. Not out of fear. Out of bravery. Then the cricket will look good, and they will perform better.”

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced the match officials for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting on August 21.

Sri Lanka’s Ranjan Madugalle, who is a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, will lead the playing control teams for the two ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 fixtures.

Both teams are scheduled to play the first Test match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi from 21 to 25 August.

The second Test match between the two sides will be played at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi from 30 August to 3 September.

For the Test series, three umpires will be from the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and two umpires are from the ICC International Panel of Umpires.

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For the Rawalpindi Test, England’s Richard Kettleborough will be the on-field umpire alongside South Africa’s Adrian Holdstock.

England’s Michael Gough will be the third umpire, while Rashid Riaz of Pakistan will act as a fourth umpire.

In Karachi, Michael Gough and Adrian Holdstock will perform the duties of on-field umpires, while Richard Kettleborough will serve as a third umpire.

Asif Yaqoob from Pakistan will be available as the fourth umpire in the Test match.

The Bangladesh cricket team is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad in the wee hours of 17 August and is expected to train in the same afternoon.

Meanwhile, the home team’s training camp will commence at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 11 August and will be supervised by red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood.

Pakistan squad for Test series against Bangladesh

Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Shaheen Shah Afridi

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan pace sensation Naseem Shah is ready to make his comeback to the red-ball side after a 13-month hiatus during the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.

The young pacer did not participate in Pakistan’s last Test series against Australia due to a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 as well.

He was last featured in the two-match away Test series against Sri Lanka, where he played in both games. He claimed nine wickets in the series.

Naseem is also part of Pakistan Shaheens’ squad for the first four-day match against Bangladesh A. He is currently partaking in the Shaheens’ training camp under the supervision of head coach Umar Gul.

The star pacer expressed excitement over his return to red-ball cricket, however, he also acknowledged the fact that playing in the longer format after a break is difficult.

“I haven’t played red cricket for thirteen months, it’s not easy to play after a long time,” said Naseem. “International cricket has its own pressure, however, we are training hard for it.”

“I know personally that it is not easy to play an international match after a long time. After coming back from injury, I am gradually increasing the load of bowling spells,” he added.

Naseem also shared that while it’s good to work with foreign coaches, however, the language barrier is a major issue for many players.

“There is a language problem with foreign coaches. We need someone to translate the language. It is easier to communicate with the coach in your own language,” he stressed.

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Recently, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced to conduct tests regularly to asses player’s fitness.

With a renewed focus on fitness, Pakistan cricketers will undergo a total of five to six tests in order to be physically tested as per the international criteria.

Naseem Shah welcomed the decision to emphasise fitness, however, he expressed the belief that it’s the players cannot be forced to improve fitness. It is every player’s responsibility to keep their fitness levels at best.

“As a professional, you have to take care of your fitness, no one can be forced to improve their fitness. International athletes are not schoolchildren to be taught fitness,” he remarked.

Notably, the first four-day match between Pakistan Shaheens and Bangladesh is scheduled to be played from 13 August to 16 August at the Islamabad Club.

Following the four-day match, Naseem Shah along with seven other probables will join the senior team for the Test series.

The first Test will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 21-25 August, while the second Test will be held from 30 August-3 September in Karachi.

Pakistan squad for Test series against Bangladesh

Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Shaheen Shah Afridi

READ: Bangladesh all-rounder pulls out of Pakistan tour

Former pace bowler Tanveer Ahmed has raised questions over the selection of Pakistan’s Test squad for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) men’s national selection committee announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming two-match home Test series against Bangladesh, starting on 21 August.

PCB also named a star-studded 15-member squad for the first four-day match, featuring Test team members Saud Shakeel, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub and Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Tanveer Ahmed took to his official X account and criticized the selection of both the squad.

“Whether it’s the Pakistan team or some of the Shaheens’ players, the selection has been wrong. It’s beyond understanding and seems to have been done through coercion,” Tanveer posted.

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He also raised the question over Abrar Ahmed being the sole spinner in Pakistan’s Test squad. He also called out coaches in domestic cricket for not being able to develop quality spin bowlers.

“Is this our domestic cricket? spinners have disappeared throughout Pakistan, and there is only one spinner in the Test squad, Abrar Ahmed. Where are our domestic coaches who still haven’t managed to develop any spinners, or are they only focused on words?” he added.

The Bangladesh cricket team is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad in the wee hours of 17 August and is expected to train in the same afternoon.

Meanwhile, the home team’s training camp will commence at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 11 August and will be supervised by red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood.

The first Test will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 21-25 August, while the second Test will be held from 30 August-3 September in Karachi.

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed reacts to Saud Shakeel’s appointment as vice-captain

Former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has reacted to the appointment of middle-order batter Saud Shakeel as the vice-captain of Pakistan’s Test team.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) men’s national selection committee announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming two-match home Test series against Bangladesh, starting on 21 August.

Shan Masood was retained as Test captain, while Saud Shakeel was named the new vice-captain of Pakistan’s red-ball team.

Saud replaced pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who served as the vice-captain in the last Test series against Australia.

Sarfaraz Ahmed, who is part of the Test squad, welcomed the decision to appoint Saud as the vice-captain, expressing support for the left-handed batter.

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“Congratulations to Saud Shakeel. It is a great honour to be the vice-captain of Pakistan’s national team,” Sarfaraz said while speaking to a local news channel.

“Such junior players who have been captaining at the lower levels are being groomed, which is uplifting. All the players are talented, all the youngsters are performing well. Whoever gets the opportunity should play well,” he concluded.

The Bangladesh cricket team is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad in the wee hours of 17 August and is expected to train in the same afternoon.

Meanwhile, the home team’s training camp will commence at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 11 August and will be supervised by red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood.

The first Test will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 21-25 August, while the second Test will be held from 30 August-3 September in Karachi.

Pakistan squad for Test series against Bangladesh

Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Shaheen Shah Afridi

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LAHORE: Pakistan dropped opening batter Imam-ul-Haq from their 17-member squad for the upcoming two-match home Test series against Bangladesh, starting from 21 August.

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) men’s national selection committee announced the squad on Wednesday for the ICC World Test Championship fixtures.

The first Test will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 21-25 August, while the second Test will be held from 30 August-3 September in Karachi.

Meanwhile, the home team’s training camp will commence at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 11 August and will be supervised by red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood.

The Bangladesh cricket team is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad in the wee hours of 17 August and is expected to train in the same afternoon.

Shan Masood will continue to lead the Test team, while left-handed middle-order batter Saud Shakeel has been appointed as the new vice-captain of Pakistan’s red-ball team.

Saud takes over from Shaheen Shah Afridi as part of the selectors’ strategic decision that is aimed at managing Pakistan’s lead fast bowler’s workload management during a busy season.

It’s worth noting that the Pakistan cricket team is scheduled to play nine Tests, 14 T20Is and, at least, 17 ODIs during the period from 21 August 2024 to 5 April 2025.

Pakistan’s 17-member Test squad for Bangladesh series features 13 players, who were involved in the last series against Australia in December/January 2023-24.

Uncapped Mohammad Huraira and Kamran Ghulam as well as Test player Mohammad Ali have been rewarded for their consistent performances in the domestic circuit as well as for Pakistan Shaheens.

Meanwhile, pace sensation Naseem Shah is returning to the red-ball side after a 13-month hiatus.

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Kamran Ghulam aggregated 1,025 runs in 11 first-class matches in the 2023-24 season and then scored 148 runs in three innings against Bangladesh ‘A’ in Darwin last month, including 100 not out in the first match.

He was part of the squad for the home series against New Zealand in December/January 2022-23 but didn’t feature in the drawn two-match series.

Fast bowler Mohammad Ali has been recalled after last featuring in the opening two Tests against England in 2022.

He took 24 wickets in six first-class matches in the 2022-23 season, followed by 47 wickets in 14 first-class matches in the 2023-24 season.

In the two four-day matches against Bangladesh ‘A’ in Darwin, Ali took nine wickets, including six for 63 in the second innings of the second match.

Meanwhile, Huraira stroked a sparkling double-century against Bangladesh ‘A’ in Darwin last month. He also had a stellar last couple of first-class seasons.

In the 2022-23 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Huraira was the only batter to break the 1,000-run barrier, aggregating 1,024 runs in 11 matches for Northern.

In the 2023-24 first-class season, the 22-year-old right-hander scored 961 runs in 14 matches for the Faisalabad Region and Higher Education Commission (HEC).

He was part of the squad for the tour to Sri Lanka in July 2023 but didn’t feature in the series, which Pakistan won by 2-0.

Imam-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali (injured), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr (injured), Noman Ali and Sajid Khan were the players who failed to retain their places in the Test side.

Imam-ul-Haq managed 57 runs in two Tests against Sri Lanka and then scored 94 runs in the Perth and Melbourne Tests, Faheem took one wicket in the Perth Test, Sajid claimed three wickets in the Sydney Test, while Nawaz and Noman didn’t play in any of the Tests.

Pakistan squad for Test series against Bangladesh

Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Shaheen Shah Afridi

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