BD team arrives for Test series
Bangladesh cricket team players are seen at the Lahore airport soon after their arrival for Test series against Pakistan. PHOTO: PCB
The Bangladesh cricket team has landed in Lahore to play a two-match Test series against Pakistan. Their arrival at Lahore's Allama Iqbal Airport from Dhaka was met with tight security measures. The team will train for three days in Lahore before heading to Islamabad on August 17.
Led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, the squad features notable players including Mahmudullah, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Shakib Al Hasan. The team also includes Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, and Khaled Ahmed.
Their first training session is scheduled for, Wednesday, August 14 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Following this, they will continue their preparation before moving to Islamabad for the first Test match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, starting on August 21. The second Test will commence on August 30 in Karachi.
Due to recent unrest in Dhaka, the Bangladesh team adjusted their plans, arriving earlier than initially scheduled. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) invited the Bangladesh Cricket Board to send the team earlier to allow extra practice time, an offer that was accepted to ensure better preparation for the series.
Squads:
Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumar Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed
Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), 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.
Ponting backs Gillespie for Pak coaching job
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has expressed confidence in Jason Gillespie's appointment as the red-ball coach of the Pakistan cricket team.
Ponting compared Gillespie to Gautam Gambhir, noting his strong coaching record across different teams over the past few years.
"Jason Gillespie is a bit like Gautam Gambhir. Pretty much everywhere he has been, his coaching record has been very very good. He will have some challenges I got no doubt about it. But he is a deep thinker and as I said, a quiet person that goes about it in his own way," Ponting said.
Ponting mentioned that former teammates have shown support for Gillespie through various WhatsApp groups.
"We've got a few WhatsApp groups over the years, all of us old guys that have played together. So everyone's congratulated him (Gillespie) and wished him luck in that role," he said.
He also suggested that changes in the coaching setup were not surprising following Pakistan's disappointing T20 World Cup performance, implying that such changes are necessary to improve future outcomes.
"And look, to be honest, I am not surprised at all by the amount of changes in that group. I know it is a different format but they had a very disappointing T20 World Cup. If you are not willing to make some changes, you're expecting similar results to come your way," he added.
Gillespie's first assignment as Pakistan' red-ball head coach would be the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting from August 21 in Rawalpindi.
Cheema likely to be named Pak team manager
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to appoint Naveed Akram Cheema as the team manager for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, as per a media report.
Sources indicate that this change aims to improve team discipline and performance.
Cheema previously managed the team during the tours of Australia and New Zealand from December 2023 to January 2024. After these tours, he was replaced by Mansoor Rana, with Wahab Riaz serving as the senior team manager.
Following a disappointing performance at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, both Wahab and Mansoor were removed from their roles. Their departure was reportedly due to their inability to maintain discipline within the team.
Cheema's return as the team manager is seen as a move to enforce stricter discipline measures. PCB is expected to announce the complete team management lineup for the Bangladesh series in the next few days.