Tag: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

KARACHI: Pakistan’s fast bowling coach, Shaun Tait has warned Sri Lanka against creating spin wickets that might favour Pakistan in the forthcoming Test series as the touring party includes exceptional spinners among its ranks.

“There are talks around spin, for obvious reasons, But I think, you [Pakistan] might be the team that changes that for sure. I mean, maybe Sri Lanka doesn’t want to create big spinning wickets against Pakistan,” he said in an interview given to EspnCricinfo.

Tait believed that the Sri Lankan approach of creating spin tracks on their home soil worked to their disfavour against the teams coming with good spinners citing the way Australia crushed the hosts in the first Test of the ongoing Test series.

“It’s sort of what they did against Australia, and Australia bowled really well. So you’ve got to be a little bit careful with opposition coming with good spinners and creating turning tracks that can also favour the opposition,” he added.

The bowling coach put his weight behind the pacer Hassan Ali, who is criticized for being out of form, and praised the fast bowler for his hard work asserting that fortunes would turn for him once he starts getting wickets.

“There’s never a shortage of hard work, that’s for sure,” he claimed. “It’s just a matter of taking wickets, right, so if he runs it and takes wickets, the media and the public all of a sudden they’re like, ‘Oh, he’s in great form’.”

Meanwhile, the bowling coach has great expectations from the national team’s pace attack and expressed confidence that the fast bowlers will put on an impressive bowling performance in their upcoming assignment in Sri Lanka.

“I’m looking at a fast-bowling group,” he said. You look at the guys like Hasan Ali or Shaheen Shah [Afridi], they had [an] excellent last season. Naseem Shah’s coming off a great series against Australia and the way Haris Rauf is so excited to make a claim in Test cricket. So these guys have played a lot of cricket, [and] I have not noticed anything that would tell me otherwise that they’re really confident and keen to go Sri Lanka and play well.”

Tait further went on to claim that the defeat by Australia in the Test series earlier this year has made the national team hungry for red-ball success, meanwhile, hailing the national Test squad for being capable of playing under any conditions.

“Obviously losing to Australia in the Test series has made this Pakistan group really hungry,” he said.  If we can go with a squad that can play in any condition, which to me we’re pretty close right now by the look of it.” he concluded.

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LAHORE: Pakistan all-format skipper and currently top-ranked T20I and ODI batter Babar Azam has expressed his urge to lead the rankings across every format by improving his standings in Test cricket as well. 

Speaking at a scheduled press conference held here at Gaddafi Stadium ahead of the national team’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, the skipper stated that he was trying to accentuate his rankings in the red-ball format through his performance.

The skipper also revealed his plans for participation in Australia’s Big Bash League and made it clear that he would only think about franchise cricket after fulfilling his national duty.

“Currently, we have enough cricket of our own. I will think about Big Bash or other events only if I get the spare time” he said.

Talking about the team’s preparation for the upcoming overseas task, Babar revealed that the team combination and playing strategy would be devised only after observing the conditions in Sri Lanka while he hailed all-rounder Faheem Ashraf for playing a vital role in the team combination.

“Faheem is our key all-rounder and we get a perfect team combination due to his presence” he maintained.

“We will observe the conditions once we reach Sri Lanka and then construct the best possible team combination,” he said. “The weather of any place is not in our hands. We try our best to play according to the conditions.”

Opining on Yasir Shah’s return to the Test squad, Babar credited the leg-spinner for strengthening the team’s spin bowling attack while he claimed that Sajid Shah had been given time to work on his bowling action.

“Our spin bowling attack is strong and Yasir Shah’s return has further strengthened the attack,” he said. “We have complete confidence in our fast bowling as well.”

It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan will tour Sri Lanka to play a two-match Test series, scheduled from July 16 to July 28.

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RAWALPINDI: Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed got a major confidence booster ahead of the team’s forthcoming Test tour to Sri Lanka as he scored a half-century in the intra-squad practice match today.

Sarfaraz, who last played a Test for Pakistan in 2019, continued to pile up runs in the practice matches ahead of the Green Shirts’ tour to Sri Lanka for two Tests.

The right-handed batter smashed 51 off 81 balls including six boundaries and a six. He previously scored an unbeaten 41 in the scenario-based intra-squad practice match on Tuesday.

Besides Sarfaraz, Fawad Alam also seemed to have found his form as he scored back-to-back fifties in the practice matches as he scored 53 including five boundaries.

Agha Salman and Mohammad Nawaz, on the other hand, were the other notable run-getters, the former scored an unbeaten 69 off 80 balls including eight boundaries while the latter scored 54.

The skipper Babar Azam could not score big this time around as he could only manage to score 44 runs.

Salman, Nauman Ali, and Nauman were the only bowlers to have opened their accounts as they claimed a wicket apiece.

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RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam bettered his last day’s century with two wickets as he displayed an astounding all-round performance in the intra-squad scenario-based practice match ahead of the Sri Lanka tour.

Babar, who piled up runs on the first day of the practice match, displayed his brilliant bowling abilities on the second, as he found himself among the wickets.

The right-handed batter resumed his unbeaten century-plus knock on the second day and retired after scoring 134. After Babar, Fawad Alam was the highest run-scorer with his magnificent 75.

For Sarfaraz XI, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, and Salman Ali Agha claimed a wicket apiece.

Salman also top-scored for his side as he scored an important 48, the skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, Hasan, and Shaheen were the other notable run-getters for the side.

Besides Babar, Haris Rauf and Mubasir Khan also bagged two wickets each before the match concluded in a draw.

It is pertinent to mention here that following the conclusion of the intra-squad scenario-based practice match, the national squad for the away Test series against Sri Lanka will have a rest day tomorrow.

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RAWALPINDI: Pakistan captain Babar Azam and the left-handed batter Fawad Alam put on an unbeaten 181-run partnership as their side frustrate Sarfaraz XI on the first day of the intra-squad scenario-based practice match on Monday.

In the scheduled two-day intra-squad scenario-based practice match, Babar XI put on a fine show with the bat as the side amassed 274-3 on the first day.

Batting first, the left-handed batter Imam-ul-Haq laid a solid foundation for a decent total with a brilliant half-century before the skipper Babar took control of the innings by himself and displayed class before going on to score a magnificent century.

The left-handed batter Fawad, on the other hand, who had a series to forget amid Australia’s historic tour to Pakistan, seemed to have reclaimed his form as he supported his skipper with a gritty half-century.

The duo of Babar and Fawad displayed resilience and scored runs on a positive approach.

Babar remained unbeaten with his astounding 111 off 181 balls with the help of 13 boundaries, while Fawad remained at the crease with his gritty 75 at the conclusion of the day’s play.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, Yasir Shah, and Salman Ali Agha claimed a wicket apiece for Sarfaraz XI, while the rest of the bowlers remained unable to find success.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan will tour Sri Lanka to play a two-match Test series, scheduled from July 16 to July 28.

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RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Test squad for the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka, participated in a scenario-based two-day practice match to race up the preparations, here at Pindi Stadium on Monday.

The 17-member contingent splitter into two sides as the players raced up the preparations for the upcoming away Test series against Sri Lanka.

The scenario-based practice match will feature 90 overs each day and the players will be given a target by the coaches to train the players to perform according to the requirement.

Pakistan’s opening pair of Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq opened the innings for their side while the pace duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali led the bowling attack.

The left-handed batter Fawad Alam, on the other hand, has also joined the squad and took part in the match.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan will tour Sri Lanka to play a two-match Test series, scheduled from July 16 to July 28.

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LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced an 18-member national squad for the upcoming two-match overseas Test series against Sri Lanka.

Leg spinner Yasir Shah made a return in the recently announced squad, meanwhile, uncapped Salman Ali Agha received a maiden call-up.

Under the captaincy of Babar Azam, the squad includes Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain, wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, and Yasir Shah.

Chief Selector of Pakistan Cricket team Muhamamd Wasim stated while announcing the squad that the players had been made selected considering the conditions in Sri Lanka.

“We have selected this squad considering the conditions in Sri Lanka and have equipped the team with the best possible resources,” said Wasim.

PCB has further announced the schedule of the national team ahead of the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.

PCB would set up a seven-day training camp commencing from June 26 to July 2 at the Pindi Stadium before the departure of the national squad on July 6.

Pakistan are set to lock horns against the hosts Sri Lanka in two Tests in their upcoming tour. The first Test will commence on July 16 at Galle, while the second Test will be staged at Colombo from July 24 to July 28. The national team will also be playing in a three-day warm-up from July 11 to July 13 before the two Tests.

DUBAI: Pakistan right-handed batter Sidra Ameen made a big gain in the ICC ODI Women’s Batting Rankings as she stormed into the top 40 of the rankings following her brilliant performance against Sri Lanka in the recently-concluded series.

Sidra, who enjoyed a delightful home series against Sri Lanka, jumped 19 places to secure her career-best 35th rank in the latest ODI batting rankings.

The right-handed batter scored 218 runs at an average of 72.66 including a century and half-century during a three-match series.

Plenty of 📈📉 in latest @MRFWorldwide ICC Women's Player Rankings for ODIs and T20Is 🗒

Details 👇https://t.co/XbKinW9VdP

— ICC (@ICC) June 7, 2022

Sidra started the year on a high as she became just the first Pakistani woman batter to score a century in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. With her second this year against Sri Lanka, she has also levelled with Javeria Khan as the second batter to score two centuries for Pakistan in Women’s ODIs.

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, on the other hand, also returned to the rankings following her remarkable century against Pakistan in the third ODI, bolstering her to claim the 23rd ranking.

Australia’s Alyssa Healy still leads the ODI batter rankings after a dominating Women’s World Cup earlier this year.

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KARACHI: Pakistan women’s team Head Coach David Hemp expressed his satisfaction with team performance as his side clean-swept, Sri Lanka in the  T20I series and won the ODI series 2-1 in a recently concluded Sri Lankan women’s team tour of Pakistan.

Hemp in a video message shared by the Pakitan Cricket Board (PCB), looked disappointed with a loss in the last ODI game against the touring side, however, he was pleased with the overall performance of the team in the matches.

“Overall I am quite pleased with the five wins we achieved,” said the head coach.

Hemp in a video message shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board, raised the expectations from the team to reach the semi-finals in the upcoming Commonwealth Games this year in which Pakistan will compete with India, Australia, and Barbados in the group stage.

“Expectations wise we want to reach the semis in the Commonwealth Games and while we have a tough group with Barbados, India, and Australia. I believe that if you have to excel in such events you have to win the big games,” the head coach said.

Pakistan women’s team’s next assignment will be a tri-series in Ireland against the hosts and Australia, as the third team. Hemp claimed the tri-series to be crucial for the team’s preparation before the Commonwealth Games.

“Before the Commonwealth Games, we have the tri-series in Ireland with Australia, the current world champions as the third team. Besides Australia Ireland will be a big challenge as they have recently beaten South Africa. The tri-series will provide us with excellent preparation before we feature in the Commonwealth Games,” he claimed.

Hemp and the team management will work closely with players in a preparatory camp in Islamabad before the team’s departure to the United Kingdom for the twin assignments early next month.

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KARACHI: Sri Lanka women’s cricket team boarded for the country early in the morning from Jinnah International Airport, concluding a historic tour of Pakistan after 17 years as the team played the ODI and T20 series against the Green shirts. 

The tour marked the first bilateral series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka women’s teams on Pakistani soil.

Pakistan has whitewashed the touring side 3-0 in the T20 series, followed by a 2-1 victory in the three-match ODI series.

The ODI series was part of the ICC women’s championship and the series victory enabled Pakistan women’s team to top the table with four points.

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