Nine members of Pakistan’s ODI squad, including captain Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, officially started preparations for the upcoming series against New Zealand on Wednesday.
The three-day training camp is underway at the LCCA Ground in Lahore, where players are fine-tuning their skills ahead of the tour.
The players, including Babar Azam, were seen practicing a number of drills to improve their overall game. They were involved in fielding, batting, and bowling drills respectively.
For Babar Azam and Naseem Shah, both of whom struggled in the recent National T20 Cup match, the training camp provides an opportunity to improve their game ahead of the crucial ODI-leg of the New Zealand series.
Skipper Muhammad Rizwan was also involved in the all-round training, focusing on reaction time drills for wicket-keeping.
Interestingly Rizwan, a wicket-keeper by trade, was also seen practicing his bowling skills in the training camp. It is currently unclear if this was a fitness test or a sign of things to come.
The full ODI squad includes Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufyan Moqim, and Tayyab Tahir.
The players are focusing on different aspects of their game under the supervision of National Cricket Academy coaches. Players were seen working in a separate net session, emphasising extended batting practice rather than power hitting.
Fast bowlers Naseem, Aaqib, and Wasim Junior trained in a leather net, designed to simulate match conditions.
The camp will conclude on 23 March, after which the squad will depart for New Zealand to compete in the ODI series.
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