Selectors, coach mull over squad options
Youngsters likely to be given chance for Australia series
KARACHI:
The national selection committee and head coach Waqar Younis, on Monday, continued their discussion regarding the players to be selected for the various squads of the home series against Australia in October.
Waqar, who has been in Karachi since the last weekend, has been following the action at the ongoing National T20 tournament at the National Stadium.
Chief selector and manager Moin Khan has also held a series of meetings with Waqar in the presence of fellow selectors Saleem Yousuf and Ijaz Ahmed. The selectors also met Shahid Afridi, the national T20 captain, on Sunday.
An official close to the matter disclosed that the selectors were considering accommodating youngsters such as Raza Hasan, Harris Sohail, Umar Amin and Bilawal Bhatti in the T20 and ODI squads.
Asad Shafiq, who was in fine form for Karachi Dolphins in their round matches, is likely to win back his place in the limited overs squads, or at least in one of the two formats.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who featured in two T20s and one ODI on a tour of Zimbabwe three years ago, is also expected to be included in the Test squad.
However, most of the discussions have centred around finalising a replacement for the suspended Saeed Ajmal.
While Hasan, a left arm-spinner, is in contention for limited overs cricket, Zulfiqar Babar, also a left-armer, is expected to win himself a berth in the Test format.
The squads will be announced on Tuesdat.
Square turners likely for Australia Tests
The team management, led by Younis, have asked the curators in the UAE to prepare square turners for the Test series against the Australians, with the two Tests being played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
In their last Test series in the sub-continent, held last year, the Aussies were defeated 4-0 by India.
With Ajmal unavailable and Pakistan’s fast-bowling resources running thin, the management believe that a turning wicket remains the best option for the hosts to upset the number one Test team in the world.
The national selection committee and head coach Waqar Younis, on Monday, continued their discussion regarding the players to be selected for the various squads of the home series against Australia in October.
Waqar, who has been in Karachi since the last weekend, has been following the action at the ongoing National T20 tournament at the National Stadium.
Chief selector and manager Moin Khan has also held a series of meetings with Waqar in the presence of fellow selectors Saleem Yousuf and Ijaz Ahmed. The selectors also met Shahid Afridi, the national T20 captain, on Sunday.
An official close to the matter disclosed that the selectors were considering accommodating youngsters such as Raza Hasan, Harris Sohail, Umar Amin and Bilawal Bhatti in the T20 and ODI squads.
Asad Shafiq, who was in fine form for Karachi Dolphins in their round matches, is likely to win back his place in the limited overs squads, or at least in one of the two formats.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who featured in two T20s and one ODI on a tour of Zimbabwe three years ago, is also expected to be included in the Test squad.
However, most of the discussions have centred around finalising a replacement for the suspended Saeed Ajmal.
While Hasan, a left arm-spinner, is in contention for limited overs cricket, Zulfiqar Babar, also a left-armer, is expected to win himself a berth in the Test format.
The squads will be announced on Tuesdat.
Square turners likely for Australia Tests
The team management, led by Younis, have asked the curators in the UAE to prepare square turners for the Test series against the Australians, with the two Tests being played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
In their last Test series in the sub-continent, held last year, the Aussies were defeated 4-0 by India.
With Ajmal unavailable and Pakistan’s fast-bowling resources running thin, the management believe that a turning wicket remains the best option for the hosts to upset the number one Test team in the world.