Race against World Cup deadline: Ajmal, Hafeez’s tests to be conducted soon, says Shaharyar
Both informal and formal testing expected to take place before Jan 7, says PCB chief
KARACHI:
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is hopeful about Saeed Ajmal and Muhammad Hafeez’s appearance in both informal and formal tests on their bowling action ahead of the January 7, 2015 deadline of the final 15-man squad’s announcement for the 2015 World Cup.
Time is fast running out for the selection committee, board and the two players to get their bowling action cleared officially as they remain an integral part of Pakistan’s national team.
Both Hafeez and Ajmal will be sent to Chennai’s High Performance Centre, where they will be assisted by Saqlain Mushtaq during their informal test.
“Ajmal and Hafeez will go for informal testing to Chennai in a day or two,” said PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan while speaking to reporters on Tuesday at the Southend Club.
“Their informal test will happen within four days and then we can apply for a date from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the formal test. We’re confident that both tests will be conducted well before January 7.”
The balance of the Pakistan team has been heavily disturbed due to the suspension of Hafeez and Ajmal, and the team management had to experiment with various combinations to strike the right balance ahead of the World Cup as Pakistan lost 3-2 in their ODI series against New Zealand.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s one-day performance, Shaharyar admitted that the team is far from strong in the 50-over format, but added that everyone is working hard to overcome their respective weaknesses ahead of the mega event.
The PCB official further said that the Pakistan team will reach Australia and New Zealand early to acclimatise to the conditions, while the team will also play a bilateral series against New Zealand, which will help in the preparations.
Shaharyar added that the PCB will now invite women’s cricket teams of Test-playing nations to come and play in Pakistan after the successful tour of Kenya.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is hopeful about Saeed Ajmal and Muhammad Hafeez’s appearance in both informal and formal tests on their bowling action ahead of the January 7, 2015 deadline of the final 15-man squad’s announcement for the 2015 World Cup.
Time is fast running out for the selection committee, board and the two players to get their bowling action cleared officially as they remain an integral part of Pakistan’s national team.
Both Hafeez and Ajmal will be sent to Chennai’s High Performance Centre, where they will be assisted by Saqlain Mushtaq during their informal test.
“Ajmal and Hafeez will go for informal testing to Chennai in a day or two,” said PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan while speaking to reporters on Tuesday at the Southend Club.
“Their informal test will happen within four days and then we can apply for a date from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the formal test. We’re confident that both tests will be conducted well before January 7.”
The balance of the Pakistan team has been heavily disturbed due to the suspension of Hafeez and Ajmal, and the team management had to experiment with various combinations to strike the right balance ahead of the World Cup as Pakistan lost 3-2 in their ODI series against New Zealand.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s one-day performance, Shaharyar admitted that the team is far from strong in the 50-over format, but added that everyone is working hard to overcome their respective weaknesses ahead of the mega event.
The PCB official further said that the Pakistan team will reach Australia and New Zealand early to acclimatise to the conditions, while the team will also play a bilateral series against New Zealand, which will help in the preparations.
Shaharyar added that the PCB will now invite women’s cricket teams of Test-playing nations to come and play in Pakistan after the successful tour of Kenya.