Saud Shakeel ready for BD test

The Men in Green will play two WTC Tests against the visitors

Newly appointed vice-captain Saud Shakeel is optimistic to take advantage from the first four-day game against Bangladesh A before the two-match Test series.

He will be leading the Pakistan Shaheens' squad which also feature first-team members like Naseem Shah and former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed.

The Left-handed middle-order batter was named the vice-captain of Pakistan's Test team, taking over from Shaheen Shah Afridi.

This change is part of the selectors' strategy to manage Shaheen's workload, particularly as Pakistan is set to play nine Tests, 14 T20Is, and at least 17 ODIs between August 21, 2024, and April 5, 2025.

When asked by the media in Islamabad about the team's workload management plan for Shaheen, Saud deferred the question, stating, "Shaheen can tell you better about this. It is none of my concern."

A reporter then pointed out that as vice-captain, Saud is part of the leadership group.

Saud acknowledged this, saying, "Shaheen is our main bowler, so the team management will make a decision that is best for him."

Saud is set to lead the Pakistan Shaheens in their first four-day match against Bangladesh 'A', which begins on Tuesday.

The squad for this match also includes Test team members Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, and Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Saud expressed that the match would serve as good preparation for the upcoming Test series.

"This four-day match would be good preparation for the upcoming Test series. Furthermore, the Bangladesh 'A' team also have seven to eight players that are part of the Bangladesh Test team, so this match will be beneficial for us," Saud said.

After this four-day match, the eight Test probables will join the national squad, with replacements to be announced for the Pakistan Shaheens for the remaining matches against Bangladesh 'A'.

Haque vows to bring joy

Bangladesh 'A' team captain Anamul Haque Bijoy has pledged to bring moments of joy to the nation through cricket.

Despite the ongoing unrest that has gripped the country, Anamul and his team remain committed to their sport, determined to lift the spirits of their fellow citizens.

Speaking at a media conference before the first four-day match against Pakistan, Shaheens, the Bangladesh 'A' skipper, emphasized the team's resolve to stay focused on cricket despite the challenging circumstances.

"We understand this is not the situation we want in Bangladesh, but all professional players play for their country; we play for our country, so we are trying our best, even though the atmosphere is not up to the mark; if we play here, we can make them happy, or something like that. So, we're trying our best to focus on our cricket, to forget everything else, and play as professional players," Haque said.

The wicket-keeper batter expressed excitement about facing the Pakistan Shaheens in their home territory, acknowledging the strength of their opponents, particularly their fast bowling lineup.

"We have been very excited about facing the Pakistan Shaheens side in their backyard. The Shaheens squad looks strong, especially the fast bowling department. With the highly experienced players on either side, the first four-dayer will be highly competitive," he said.

"This series is also crucial for the Bangladesh players looking to prepare for the upcoming Test series and youngsters who aim to stake a claim in the senior side," he added.

The political landscape in Bangladesh has been marked by major anti-government protests, leading to multiple fatalities and the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has sought refuge in India.

Due to the political situation, Bangladesh's cricket team will arrive in Pakistan earlier than planned for their ICC World Test Championship matches.

Originally set to arrive on August 17, they will now land on August 13 and train in Lahore before moving to Islamabad.

The PCB extended the invitation to help the team better prepare, and BCB Chief Executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury expressed gratitude for the extra training days.