Pakistan’s preparations for the tour of Sri Lanka were hit hard when in-form opener Nasir Jamshed was ruled out with a fractured finger.
Jamshed, who scored a century against India in the Asia Cup, was picked in Pakistan’s limited-overs squads and, according to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official, he picked up the injury during a local match a few days ago. Chief selector Iqbal Qasim said a replacement will be announced after consultation with the team management.
Whatmore hopes to beat the heat as well
Meanwhile, the 10-day training camp started at the Gadaffi Stadium Lahore yesterday. The camp is broken down into practice sessions as well as lectures and matches.
Coach Dav Whatmore said that training in the heat will be an ideal preparation for Sri Lanka where the matches will be played in similar conditions.
“There pitches in Sri Lanka will be good to bat and bowl so we are not expecting anything different,” said Whatmore before hoping that the decision to select separate squads yields positive results.
“I’m very open to see players selected in formats that are suitable for them. As far as leadership is concerned, that is not my area and I will support and back anything that the PCB does.”
Meanwhile, Whatmore, who coached the Kolkata Knight Riders before taking up the Pakistan job, also expressed his disappointment on the revelation of spot-fixing in the IPL which resulted in five players being suspended.
The training camp will also include anti-doping and anti-corruption lectures for the players which will be supervised by manager Naveed Akram Cheema.
The squad will leave for Sri Lanka on May 28 and will play two Twenty20s, five One-Day Internationals and three Tests against the hosts from June 1 to July 12.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 17th, 2012.
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