Top Pak players may face BD ‘A’ in tour match

A major proposal has been made to field several players from the Pakistan cricket team to represent the Shaheens in the upcoming four-day series against Bangladesh A.

According to the media reports, this initiative aims to provide these players with valuable practice before the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh ths month.

Key to this proposal is the consultation of Waqar Younis, who was recently appointed as Adviser for Cricket Affairs to PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi.

Prominent players such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Naseem Shah, who recently competed in the T20 World Cup, are set to participate in the training camp.

The selectors, Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, along with the consultation of Test skipper Shan Masood and red-ball coach Jason Gillespie, will soon announce the names of potential players for the Test team’s training camp.

The four-day match against Bangladesh A will take place at Islamabad Club from August 10 to 13, with Jason Gillespie appointed as the head coach of Pakistan Shaheens. He is scheduled to return to Pakistan on August 6 to closely observe and assess the players’ form and positions.

Waqar Younis, now serving as a consultant for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has already commenced his duties at the PCB headquarters. On Thursday, he led his first meeting in Lahore, where he reviewed the selection policy for Pakistan Shaheens.

The meeting underscored the need to include Pakistan Test players who have not participated in any matches since the Sydney Test in January, ensuring they get ample practice in the upcoming four-day match.

The training camp for the Pakistan Test team will also commence on August 10 at Pindi Stadium. Key players, including Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, and Nauman Ali, who have not played any four-day matches since January, will benefit from this initiative.

Sources indicate that with authority from Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Waqar Younis emphasized the necessity of establishing a comprehensive selection policy. This effort aims to create a larger player pool, ensuring continuous practice and preparation for the forthcoming Test series.

It is worth noting that the first four-day match begins on August 10, followed by the second on August 17. The three ODIs are scheduled for August 23, 25, and 27.

Huraira returns to Pakistan for Bangladesh Tests

Fast bowler Kashif Ali has been ruled out due to a right thigh tear sustained during the second four-day match against Bangladesh ‘A’

The Pakistan Shaheens cricket team will commence the white-ball portion of their Darwin tour on Sunday with a 50-over match against Northern Territory Strike at the Gardens Oval. Subsequently, they will take on Bangladesh ‘A’ in another 50-over game on Tuesday at the DXC Arena.

The tour will then transition to T20 cricket with the Top End T20 Series, which will feature nine teams and take place from August 9 to 18.

The Pakistan Shaheens have made two changes to their squad for the upcoming white-ball matches. Fast bowler Kashif Ali has been ruled out due to a right thigh tear sustained during the second four-day match against Bangladesh ‘A’.

Furthermore, Tayyab Tahir has been brought in to replace Mohammad Huraira. Huraira, after scoring a double century in the first four-day match against Bangladesh ‘A’ and being rested for the second, has returned to Pakistan as he is in contention for this month’s red-ball matches against Bangladesh.