Sohail & Co to mull over Asia Cup squad

Selection committee meeting likely to be held on Friday.

KARACHI: Aamir Sohail’s appointment as the chief selector has brought back energy into the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) selection committee that had become inoperative in the last couple of weeks.

Sohail, whose appointment was made at the governing board meeting on Monday, is expected to start his tenure officially from Thursday.

The former captain’s immediate task is to select a squad for the Asia Cup that is scheduled to be played from February 25 in Bangladesh.

An official close to the selection committee said that Sohail is likely to call a meeting on Friday to mull over the players for the Asia Cup.

“The selection committee meeting is expected to be held on Friday,” the official told The Express Tribune.

“The selectors are likely to form their initial list of probables that will be later discussed with the captain.”

He hinted that there were little signs of a major change in the team considering its recent one-day form.

‘Sohail keen to scout out talent from T20 event’

The official said that Sohail will closely monitor players in the domestic Faysal Bank Twenty20 Cup that will see a record 17 teams in action.

“Players from around the country are participating in the tournament,” he said.

“The selection committee will assemble in Rawalpindi and Islamabad with an aim to scout talent. It will help them in forming the final squad for the forthcoming World T20.”

Pakistan to warm-up against SA, NZ

The International Cricket Council announced the match officials and a schedule of warm-up matches for the World Twenty20 to be played from March 16 to April 6 in Bangladesh.

Aleem Dar is the only Pakistani appointed as the field umpire for the tournament. On the other hand, Pakistan will play two warm-up matches before the tournament.

Mohammad Hafeez’s side will play their first practice match against New Zealand on March 17, before meeting South Africa on March 19.

Pakistan Women’s team will also play a couple of warm-up games. Their first match is against England on March 18 followed by a game against hosts Bangladesh on March 20.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2014.

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