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Australia have arrived in Pakistan.
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Contact the PP Team
[PICTURES/VIDEOS] Australia tour of Pakistan (2022)
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Bilal Ahmad15
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Nice. The first step is done. Step two is to arrive at the toss. Final, and most important step is for a ball to be bowled.
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Australia will be confronted by some unfamiliar faces for the opening Test in Rawalpindi next week, with just two members of Pakistan's XI from their most recent win against Australia set to play in the three-match series.
Established names like skipper Babar Azam, veteran Azhar Ali, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and pace sensation Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the home side in the three-Test series, but bowling stars Mohammad Abbas and Yasir Shah as well as batting stalwart Asad Shafiq have been on the outer for Pakistan's recent Test resurgence and have not been named in their 15-man squad.
In their place have been fast man Hasan Ali, resurgent left-hander Fawad Alam, allrounder Faheem Ashraf and new spinners Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan, who all played key roles in Pakistan winning seven of their nine Test matches in 2021.
Underlining the turnover of players since Australia's last away campaign against Pakistan in late 2018, the home side's five leading run-getters from that series – former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, veteran batters Shafiq, Haris Sohail and Mohammad Hafeez and opener Fakhar Zaman – are all absent.
Seamer Abbas, who took a record 17 wickets in just two Tests in that series, leg-spinner Yasir, the fastest man ever to 200 Test wickets who famously scored a century against Australia in 2019, as well as off-spinner Bilal Asif, who took a six-wicket haul on Test debut against Australia in 2018, have also fallen out of favour.
Seven members of Australia's squad from that 2018 series – Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh and Ashton Agar – have returned for this campaign.
From the most recent Test meeting between the two sides, in Adelaide in 2019, Australia will be missing three players – Tim Paine, Joe Burns and Matthew Wade – while Pakistan will be missing five – Abbas, Yasir, Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed and Muhammad Musa.
Pakistan's recent success has been built on their new-look bowling attack, led by the 21-year-old Afridi and right-armer Hasan, who were the most prolific fast bowlers in Test cricket last year with a combined 88 wickets at just 16.60.
Given allrounder Ashraf offers a third seam-bowling option and can bat in the top seven, the hosts could again pick a dual spin attack of left-armer Nauman, who took 19 wickets at 27 in seven Tests last year, and off-spinner Sajid, who picked up 8-42 in a Test against Bangladesh in December.
However, with both Ashraf and Hasan reportedly under an injury cloud and the opening Test in Rawalpindi expected to favour the seamers, the hosts may take a different approach.
"There is no mystery about (Nauman and Sajid), but they're very accurate," former Pakistan batter Bazid Khan, who will commentate on the series, told cricket.com.au recently.
"Nauman Ali bowls pretty flat, almost like (India's Ravindra) Jadeja, there or thereabouts. He'll test you on the front foot.
"Sajid will get the ball to spin a bit more and bowl a bit slower.
"(Yasir) has been surpassed by those two spinners … (his) form has dipped slightly. He was a threat in the UAE but once things have come back to Pakistan, it's not been the same."
Big Bash star Haris Rauf, who is yet to make his Test debut, is the only other frontline fast bowler in Pakistan's squad, although teenage speedster Naseem Shah – who made his debut in Brisbane in 2019 – is reportedly set to be drafted in due to the injury to Hasan.
Perhaps the biggest surprise for Australian fans will be the absence of Abbas, who has taken 90 wickets in 25 Tests at 23.02, the third-lowest bowling average in Pakistan history.
But the right-armer has averaged 37 in the three-and-a-half years since he destroyed Australia in 2018.
"He excelled in the UAE especially, where the ball did not come onto the bat at all," Bazid said. "You were almost bound to get hit on the pads once an over.
"But he won't be as difficult in Pakistan because the ball will come onto the bat more.
"Hasan Ali had a phenomenal comeback year in Test cricket (in 2021). He'll skid the ball through and (bowl) reverse swing. Especially when the pitch gets slightly lower, he's more dangerous; naturally he gets the ball to zip off the surface but once it gets lower and seams back into the stumps, he gets a lot of LBWs and bowleds.
"Shaheen Shah Afridi, with the new ball he bowls pretty full and gets it to swing. And then in his comeback overs, he's still got pace to rattle you when bowling back of a length or even short stuff."
Also missing from the series will be opener Abid Ali, Pakistan's leading run-scorer last year, who is recovering from heart surgery after he experienced chest pain during a first-class match in December.
His absence means one of Shan Masood or Imam-ul-Haq, who opened together in the 2019 Adelaide Test, will come into the side to partner rookie opener Abdullah Shafique at the top of the order.
No.3 Azhar and No.4 Babar will then be followed by Alam, who celebrated the end of his 11-year Test exile in late 2020 with a century in New Zealand before adding hundreds in Karachi, Harare and Kingston last year.
Wicketkeeper Rizwan, who dominated with the bat in all formats in 2021, is expected to bat at No.6. The right-hander's batting average of 43.59 from 18 Tests as a gloveman places him behind only AB de Villiers, Andy Flower and Adam Gilchrist among keeper-batters to have played 15 or more Tests.
Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood. Reserves: Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Haris
Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. On standby: Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Renshaw
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
Australia ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: Only T20I, Rawalpindi
Established names like skipper Babar Azam, veteran Azhar Ali, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and pace sensation Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the home side in the three-Test series, but bowling stars Mohammad Abbas and Yasir Shah as well as batting stalwart Asad Shafiq have been on the outer for Pakistan's recent Test resurgence and have not been named in their 15-man squad.
In their place have been fast man Hasan Ali, resurgent left-hander Fawad Alam, allrounder Faheem Ashraf and new spinners Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan, who all played key roles in Pakistan winning seven of their nine Test matches in 2021.
Underlining the turnover of players since Australia's last away campaign against Pakistan in late 2018, the home side's five leading run-getters from that series – former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, veteran batters Shafiq, Haris Sohail and Mohammad Hafeez and opener Fakhar Zaman – are all absent.
Seamer Abbas, who took a record 17 wickets in just two Tests in that series, leg-spinner Yasir, the fastest man ever to 200 Test wickets who famously scored a century against Australia in 2019, as well as off-spinner Bilal Asif, who took a six-wicket haul on Test debut against Australia in 2018, have also fallen out of favour.
Seven members of Australia's squad from that 2018 series – Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh and Ashton Agar – have returned for this campaign.
From the most recent Test meeting between the two sides, in Adelaide in 2019, Australia will be missing three players – Tim Paine, Joe Burns and Matthew Wade – while Pakistan will be missing five – Abbas, Yasir, Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed and Muhammad Musa.
Pakistan's recent success has been built on their new-look bowling attack, led by the 21-year-old Afridi and right-armer Hasan, who were the most prolific fast bowlers in Test cricket last year with a combined 88 wickets at just 16.60.
Given allrounder Ashraf offers a third seam-bowling option and can bat in the top seven, the hosts could again pick a dual spin attack of left-armer Nauman, who took 19 wickets at 27 in seven Tests last year, and off-spinner Sajid, who picked up 8-42 in a Test against Bangladesh in December.
However, with both Ashraf and Hasan reportedly under an injury cloud and the opening Test in Rawalpindi expected to favour the seamers, the hosts may take a different approach.
"There is no mystery about (Nauman and Sajid), but they're very accurate," former Pakistan batter Bazid Khan, who will commentate on the series, told cricket.com.au recently.
"Nauman Ali bowls pretty flat, almost like (India's Ravindra) Jadeja, there or thereabouts. He'll test you on the front foot.
"Sajid will get the ball to spin a bit more and bowl a bit slower.
"(Yasir) has been surpassed by those two spinners … (his) form has dipped slightly. He was a threat in the UAE but once things have come back to Pakistan, it's not been the same."
Big Bash star Haris Rauf, who is yet to make his Test debut, is the only other frontline fast bowler in Pakistan's squad, although teenage speedster Naseem Shah – who made his debut in Brisbane in 2019 – is reportedly set to be drafted in due to the injury to Hasan.
Perhaps the biggest surprise for Australian fans will be the absence of Abbas, who has taken 90 wickets in 25 Tests at 23.02, the third-lowest bowling average in Pakistan history.
But the right-armer has averaged 37 in the three-and-a-half years since he destroyed Australia in 2018.
"He excelled in the UAE especially, where the ball did not come onto the bat at all," Bazid said. "You were almost bound to get hit on the pads once an over.
"But he won't be as difficult in Pakistan because the ball will come onto the bat more.
"Hasan Ali had a phenomenal comeback year in Test cricket (in 2021). He'll skid the ball through and (bowl) reverse swing. Especially when the pitch gets slightly lower, he's more dangerous; naturally he gets the ball to zip off the surface but once it gets lower and seams back into the stumps, he gets a lot of LBWs and bowleds.
"Shaheen Shah Afridi, with the new ball he bowls pretty full and gets it to swing. And then in his comeback overs, he's still got pace to rattle you when bowling back of a length or even short stuff."
Also missing from the series will be opener Abid Ali, Pakistan's leading run-scorer last year, who is recovering from heart surgery after he experienced chest pain during a first-class match in December.
His absence means one of Shan Masood or Imam-ul-Haq, who opened together in the 2019 Adelaide Test, will come into the side to partner rookie opener Abdullah Shafique at the top of the order.
No.3 Azhar and No.4 Babar will then be followed by Alam, who celebrated the end of his 11-year Test exile in late 2020 with a century in New Zealand before adding hundreds in Karachi, Harare and Kingston last year.
Wicketkeeper Rizwan, who dominated with the bat in all formats in 2021, is expected to bat at No.6. The right-hander's batting average of 43.59 from 18 Tests as a gloveman places him behind only AB de Villiers, Andy Flower and Adam Gilchrist among keeper-batters to have played 15 or more Tests.
Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood. Reserves: Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Haris
Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. On standby: Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Renshaw
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
Australia ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: Only T20I, Rawalpindi
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
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- 218,132
Islamabad (AFP) – Australia flew into Pakistan Sunday for their first cricket tour in nearly a quarter of a century -- and into a high-security bubble that will envelop them throughout their six-week stay.
Senior batsman Steve Smith posted a picture on Twitter of the 35-strong Australia tour party inside their charter flight's cabin after it touched down in the Pakistan capital, Islamabad. Local officials confirmed their arrival.
Pakistan have struggled to attract visiting sides since a fatal terror attack on the visiting Sri Lanka team's bus in 2009. Australia pulled out of a tour five years earlier after a suicide blast at a Lahore church.
They last played in Pakistan in 1998, winning the three-Test series 1-0 and blanking the hosts in the three one-day internationals.
Having been forced to play their home games abroad -- mostly in the United Arab Emirates -- Pakistan appeared to have reassured international cricket authorities last year with both New Zealand and England scheduled to tour.
But the Black Caps hastily departed in September just minutes before their first match was due to start, citing security fears, and England postponed tours by both their men's and women's teams soon after.
The decisions incensed Pakistan cricket authorities, who felt they had done everything possible to ensure safety and security.
They say they are again leaving nothing to chance, with nearly 4,000 police and military personnel guarding the team hotel in Islamabad and the cricket stadium in the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi.
'Head of state-level' protection
"The squad will be given 'head of state-level security'," a spokesman for Pakistan's interior ministry told AFP.
"Such arrangements are only made for high-level foreign delegations, (and) the president and prime minister of Pakistan."
Roads will be blocked off when the Australians make the 15-kilometre (11-mile) commute, with their team bus to be shadowed by army helicopters.
Snipers will be positioned on buildings surrounding the stadium, while nearby shops and offices have been ordered to close on match days, the interior ministry said.
Similar arrangements will be in place for matches in Karachi and Lahore.
The Australians will be confined to quarters for 24 hours after arrival for Covid tests, before intense training ahead of the first Test starting March 4.
"We've got to a place where everyone hopping on the plane is comfortable with where it's all sitting," Australian skipper Pat Cummins said ahead of the team's departure from Sydney.
"It's been a really thorough body of work that the security and the logistics teams have worked through."
More than half Pakistan's 220 million people were not even born the last time Australia toured -- the median age is 22.8 -- but stadiums are expected to be packed as the country emerges relatively unscathed from the Omicron stage of the Covid epidemic.
The teams will play three Tests, three one-day internationals and one Twenty20 match before the Australians depart on April 6.
Pakistan are due to host eight Tests, 11 ODIs and 13 Twenty20 internationals in the next 13 months.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-ne...pakistan-tour-in-24-years-with-security-tight
Senior batsman Steve Smith posted a picture on Twitter of the 35-strong Australia tour party inside their charter flight's cabin after it touched down in the Pakistan capital, Islamabad. Local officials confirmed their arrival.
Pakistan have struggled to attract visiting sides since a fatal terror attack on the visiting Sri Lanka team's bus in 2009. Australia pulled out of a tour five years earlier after a suicide blast at a Lahore church.
They last played in Pakistan in 1998, winning the three-Test series 1-0 and blanking the hosts in the three one-day internationals.
Having been forced to play their home games abroad -- mostly in the United Arab Emirates -- Pakistan appeared to have reassured international cricket authorities last year with both New Zealand and England scheduled to tour.
But the Black Caps hastily departed in September just minutes before their first match was due to start, citing security fears, and England postponed tours by both their men's and women's teams soon after.
The decisions incensed Pakistan cricket authorities, who felt they had done everything possible to ensure safety and security.
They say they are again leaving nothing to chance, with nearly 4,000 police and military personnel guarding the team hotel in Islamabad and the cricket stadium in the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi.
'Head of state-level' protection
"The squad will be given 'head of state-level security'," a spokesman for Pakistan's interior ministry told AFP.
"Such arrangements are only made for high-level foreign delegations, (and) the president and prime minister of Pakistan."
Roads will be blocked off when the Australians make the 15-kilometre (11-mile) commute, with their team bus to be shadowed by army helicopters.
Snipers will be positioned on buildings surrounding the stadium, while nearby shops and offices have been ordered to close on match days, the interior ministry said.
Similar arrangements will be in place for matches in Karachi and Lahore.
The Australians will be confined to quarters for 24 hours after arrival for Covid tests, before intense training ahead of the first Test starting March 4.
"We've got to a place where everyone hopping on the plane is comfortable with where it's all sitting," Australian skipper Pat Cummins said ahead of the team's departure from Sydney.
"It's been a really thorough body of work that the security and the logistics teams have worked through."
More than half Pakistan's 220 million people were not even born the last time Australia toured -- the median age is 22.8 -- but stadiums are expected to be packed as the country emerges relatively unscathed from the Omicron stage of the Covid epidemic.
The teams will play three Tests, three one-day internationals and one Twenty20 match before the Australians depart on April 6.
Pakistan are due to host eight Tests, 11 ODIs and 13 Twenty20 internationals in the next 13 months.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-ne...pakistan-tour-in-24-years-with-security-tight
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 218,132
Fawad Ahmed called in to help Australia in Pakistan
A decade after he sought refuge in Australia to escape the Taliban, Fawad Ahmed will aid his new countrymen in Pakistan as part of the tourists’ training squad.
Pat Cummins’ team has been looking for some additional spin bowling expertise on the ground for their first trip to Pakistan since 1998, with their usual specialist coach Sridharan Sriram unable to tour.
The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald have confirmed Fawad will link up with the touring party after their arrival and be part of the camp as a net bowler and source of advice.
Fawad, who played five international matches for Australia after being granted citizenship in 2013, took part in the Pakistan Super League as a replacement for Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan at Lahore Qalanders, returning figures of 2-26 in his one appearance. Lahore are playing in the PSL final this week, after which Fawad will transfer into the Australian biosecurity bubble.
An accomplished performer in Pakistan domestic ranks, Fawad moved to Australia in 2010 after being threatened by the Taliban due to his advocacy for female education. He will bring plenty of useful first-hand knowledge to a squad with virtually no experience of cricket in the country.
Of particular interest will be how the wrist spinner Mitchell Swepson benefits from Fawad’s presence, as he gears up for a likely Test debut at some point on the tour. Over 43 matches for Victoria, Fawad scooped 156 wickets at an average of 29.83 and a strike rate of 53.3.
“It’s going to be great to have ‘Fuzzy’ back around the squad,” Cummins said after the touring party’s charter flight from Melbourne landed in Islamabad. “I haven’t actually seen him for a few years so it’s going to be good to catch up.
“He’s got a wealth of experience here, playing in Pakistan and the PSL. He knows the venues quite well, so that’s going to be really helpful. And just having another pair of hands around training. He’s always great fun for the group, so great to see him again.”
Since he finished playing for Victoria in early 2019, Fawad has continued to perform with distinction in the Big Bash League for Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers. During the recent BBL, where Fawad’s Strikers teammates included the Test squad members Travis Head and Alex Carey, he was asked plenty of questions about what the Australians might expect.
“When I was in Big Bash, everyone was asking a lot of questions about the security and conditions like how the ball would behave, how the pitch would be,” Fawad told Geo News in Pakistan. “So I shared information in a good way and convinced them as well, I also spoke to CA and other officials too, and tried my best on my side to convince them, especially about security.
“I explained it that the security in Pakistan will make you feel as secure as anywhere in the world. Security here will be very tight.”
Having shared his life between the two countries, Fawad spoke enthusiastically about the value of the series in terms of re-opening Pakistan to international cricket for all.
“This is a really good thing for Pakistan and even for cricket,” Fawad said. “When I was talking to the people back home, the team members or from the support staff or the people in Cricket Australia, I would say, I requested them ‘let’s do it then for the game itself. Let’s do it for cricket.’ So, hopefully, this would be a revival of Test cricket in Pakistan.
“Australia will not be an easy sail for Pakistan, it will be a tough competition. Pakistan’s strength looks fast bowling now and one expects that Pakistan will prepare wickets that support fast bowlers, and if they produce such wickets, then it will also help to Australia and give them some advantage because they’ve good bowlers as well.”
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...lp-australia-in-pakistan-20220227-p5a01l.html
A decade after he sought refuge in Australia to escape the Taliban, Fawad Ahmed will aid his new countrymen in Pakistan as part of the tourists’ training squad.
Pat Cummins’ team has been looking for some additional spin bowling expertise on the ground for their first trip to Pakistan since 1998, with their usual specialist coach Sridharan Sriram unable to tour.
The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald have confirmed Fawad will link up with the touring party after their arrival and be part of the camp as a net bowler and source of advice.
Fawad, who played five international matches for Australia after being granted citizenship in 2013, took part in the Pakistan Super League as a replacement for Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan at Lahore Qalanders, returning figures of 2-26 in his one appearance. Lahore are playing in the PSL final this week, after which Fawad will transfer into the Australian biosecurity bubble.
An accomplished performer in Pakistan domestic ranks, Fawad moved to Australia in 2010 after being threatened by the Taliban due to his advocacy for female education. He will bring plenty of useful first-hand knowledge to a squad with virtually no experience of cricket in the country.
Of particular interest will be how the wrist spinner Mitchell Swepson benefits from Fawad’s presence, as he gears up for a likely Test debut at some point on the tour. Over 43 matches for Victoria, Fawad scooped 156 wickets at an average of 29.83 and a strike rate of 53.3.
“It’s going to be great to have ‘Fuzzy’ back around the squad,” Cummins said after the touring party’s charter flight from Melbourne landed in Islamabad. “I haven’t actually seen him for a few years so it’s going to be good to catch up.
“He’s got a wealth of experience here, playing in Pakistan and the PSL. He knows the venues quite well, so that’s going to be really helpful. And just having another pair of hands around training. He’s always great fun for the group, so great to see him again.”
Since he finished playing for Victoria in early 2019, Fawad has continued to perform with distinction in the Big Bash League for Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers. During the recent BBL, where Fawad’s Strikers teammates included the Test squad members Travis Head and Alex Carey, he was asked plenty of questions about what the Australians might expect.
“When I was in Big Bash, everyone was asking a lot of questions about the security and conditions like how the ball would behave, how the pitch would be,” Fawad told Geo News in Pakistan. “So I shared information in a good way and convinced them as well, I also spoke to CA and other officials too, and tried my best on my side to convince them, especially about security.
“I explained it that the security in Pakistan will make you feel as secure as anywhere in the world. Security here will be very tight.”
Having shared his life between the two countries, Fawad spoke enthusiastically about the value of the series in terms of re-opening Pakistan to international cricket for all.
“This is a really good thing for Pakistan and even for cricket,” Fawad said. “When I was talking to the people back home, the team members or from the support staff or the people in Cricket Australia, I would say, I requested them ‘let’s do it then for the game itself. Let’s do it for cricket.’ So, hopefully, this would be a revival of Test cricket in Pakistan.
“Australia will not be an easy sail for Pakistan, it will be a tough competition. Pakistan’s strength looks fast bowling now and one expects that Pakistan will prepare wickets that support fast bowlers, and if they produce such wickets, then it will also help to Australia and give them some advantage because they’ve good bowlers as well.”
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...lp-australia-in-pakistan-20220227-p5a01l.html
Thanos
Tape Ball Captain
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2021
- Runs
- 1,264
I can understand NZ withdrawal at last moment has made Pak fans nervous but hopefully this tour will go as planned.
Hoping for some good international cricket.
Mesozoic
T20I Debutant
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2019
- Runs
- 7,957
A full strength Australia landing in Pakistan for a full fledged series...
This is a bigger deal than even the Indian team touring Pakistan. As a genuine well-wisher of the sport, I hope international tours get normalised in the second biggest cricketing nation. If all things go well (and looking at the recent change in geopolitics), I foresee the resumption in bilateral tours and an Indian visit sooner than later. possibly for the champions Trophy in 2025..
This is a bigger deal than even the Indian team touring Pakistan. As a genuine well-wisher of the sport, I hope international tours get normalised in the second biggest cricketing nation. If all things go well (and looking at the recent change in geopolitics), I foresee the resumption in bilateral tours and an Indian visit sooner than later. possibly for the champions Trophy in 2025..
loves_cricket
Tape Ball Star
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2013
- Runs
- 691
Wishing all the besr to both sides
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 218,132
Pat Cummins says he feels "incredibly safe" after touching down in Pakistan on Sunday for Australia's first tour of the country in 24 years.
Cummins will lead Australia in an overseas Test match for the first time when they take on the hosts in Rawalpindi next Friday.
The Test is the first of three, before a trio of One-Day Internationals and one Twenty20 International.
Touring Pakistan has been fraught with danger since a terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009.
But Cummins, who will lead a strong Australia side on the back of their successful Ashes campaign, said the players' concerns had been allayed by a delegation from Cricket Australia ensuring appropriate safety standards were met.
"I feel incredibly safe and we've been really well looked after by the Pakistan Cricket Board," Cummins said.
"There's been lots of security upon arrival. We were straight off the plane and straight to the hotel.
"We've got a pretty good set-up and we'll be confined to the hotel except for games and training.
"We've travelled to places like India where you don't leave the hotel too much so we are used to it.
"It's comforting and we're really lucky to be surrounded by so many professionals.
"One of the factors we wanted to be really thorough on before arriving here was not only security but also biosecurity.
"Everyone has done a fantastic job, so we can just concentrate on cricket and really enjoy our first tour here for 24 years."
Australia's players must isolate for the 24 hours following their arrival but can hit the training ground on Monday provided they do not test positive for COVID-19.
Cummins said he felt privileged to play a Test series in Pakistan when so many greats of the game in Australia hadn't been afforded that opportunity.
"We feel lucky to get to come back here after a whole generation didn't get the chance to play any cricket over here," Cummins said.
"I think it (Pakistan) has slowly had more cricket here. George Bailey, our selector, came and played a couple of games a few years ago.
"The Pakistan Super League has also been hugely successful. We're fortunate that they (Pakistan) have come to play us in Australia and it's great we can return the favour."
Cummins' side have been boosted by the inclusion of Pakistani-born Australian international Fawad Ahmed as a spin bowling consultant.
Ahmed has been playing in the PSL with Lahore Qalandars.
"He's got a wealth of experience here and he knows the venues quite well and he's always great fun for the group," Cummins said.
https://7news.com.au/sport/cricket/australian-cricket-team-lands-in-pakistan-c-5859492
Cummins will lead Australia in an overseas Test match for the first time when they take on the hosts in Rawalpindi next Friday.
The Test is the first of three, before a trio of One-Day Internationals and one Twenty20 International.
Touring Pakistan has been fraught with danger since a terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009.
But Cummins, who will lead a strong Australia side on the back of their successful Ashes campaign, said the players' concerns had been allayed by a delegation from Cricket Australia ensuring appropriate safety standards were met.
"I feel incredibly safe and we've been really well looked after by the Pakistan Cricket Board," Cummins said.
"There's been lots of security upon arrival. We were straight off the plane and straight to the hotel.
"We've got a pretty good set-up and we'll be confined to the hotel except for games and training.
"We've travelled to places like India where you don't leave the hotel too much so we are used to it.
"It's comforting and we're really lucky to be surrounded by so many professionals.
"One of the factors we wanted to be really thorough on before arriving here was not only security but also biosecurity.
"Everyone has done a fantastic job, so we can just concentrate on cricket and really enjoy our first tour here for 24 years."
Australia's players must isolate for the 24 hours following their arrival but can hit the training ground on Monday provided they do not test positive for COVID-19.
Cummins said he felt privileged to play a Test series in Pakistan when so many greats of the game in Australia hadn't been afforded that opportunity.
"We feel lucky to get to come back here after a whole generation didn't get the chance to play any cricket over here," Cummins said.
"I think it (Pakistan) has slowly had more cricket here. George Bailey, our selector, came and played a couple of games a few years ago.
"The Pakistan Super League has also been hugely successful. We're fortunate that they (Pakistan) have come to play us in Australia and it's great we can return the favour."
Cummins' side have been boosted by the inclusion of Pakistani-born Australian international Fawad Ahmed as a spin bowling consultant.
Ahmed has been playing in the PSL with Lahore Qalandars.
"He's got a wealth of experience here and he knows the venues quite well and he's always great fun for the group," Cummins said.
https://7news.com.au/sport/cricket/australian-cricket-team-lands-in-pakistan-c-5859492
Slim
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This is such a big deal! I wish the tour goes smoothly. This is bigger than any team visiting us.
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Pictures (courtesy of the PCB) of Pakistan Test squad practicing ahead of the 3-match Test series against Australia
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Iftikhar and Wasim Jnr to replace Faheem and Hasan
Rawalpindi, 27 February 2022:
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa captain Iftikhar Ahmed and fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jnr have been included in Pakistan’s Test squad for the first match of the three-match series against Australia.
The two have replaced Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Ali who have been ruled out of the Rawalpindi Test (first of the series) due to injuries. Both Iftikhar and Wasim (chosen due to their all-round ability) will reach Islamabad tonight and start their three-day isolation at the team hotel after which they will join the rest of the squad after clearing covid tests.
Faheem and Hasan will rejoin the squad in the coming week and after completing their three-day mandatory isolation integrate with the rest of the squad during the first Test, both are expected to regain full fitness before the second Test that will be played in Karachi 12-16 March.
15-player squad: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haris Rauf (Northern), Iftikhar Ahmed (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shan Masood (Balochistan) and Zahid Mahmood (Sindh)
Test schedule:
4-8 Mar – 1st Test, Rawalpindi
12-16 Mar – 2nd Test, Karachi
21-25 Mar – 3rd Test, Lahore
Rawalpindi, 27 February 2022:
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa captain Iftikhar Ahmed and fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jnr have been included in Pakistan’s Test squad for the first match of the three-match series against Australia.
The two have replaced Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Ali who have been ruled out of the Rawalpindi Test (first of the series) due to injuries. Both Iftikhar and Wasim (chosen due to their all-round ability) will reach Islamabad tonight and start their three-day isolation at the team hotel after which they will join the rest of the squad after clearing covid tests.
Faheem and Hasan will rejoin the squad in the coming week and after completing their three-day mandatory isolation integrate with the rest of the squad during the first Test, both are expected to regain full fitness before the second Test that will be played in Karachi 12-16 March.
15-player squad: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haris Rauf (Northern), Iftikhar Ahmed (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shan Masood (Balochistan) and Zahid Mahmood (Sindh)
Test schedule:
4-8 Mar – 1st Test, Rawalpindi
12-16 Mar – 2nd Test, Karachi
21-25 Mar – 3rd Test, Lahore
Arsal_AK
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Wasim over Naseem is just plain stupid. Makes a mockery of the whole reserve situation as well.
Azzurri
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Wait so Waseem jnr will be the third seamer??
Savak
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What are Wasim Jr's domestic 4 day stats? What is the thought process behind selecting Iftikhar?
Flat_Track_Bully
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He's a good bowler, he deserves his chance.
Arsal_AK
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He might be but not ahead of Naseem who is coming off great A team performances. There has to be some thought process behind selections. He wasn't even in the reserves.
Savak
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Is Wasim Jr being played for his batting as well?
HappyWarsFan
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Babar needs to step in and slap the drunk srkector.
RedwoodOriginal
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Wasim and Haris Rauf over Abbas and Naseem is simply insane.
Mohammad Wasim has lost his mind. And if we lose the first test it will be on him.
Mohammad Wasim has lost his mind. And if we lose the first test it will be on him.
RedwoodOriginal
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Mohammad Wasim Jr. and Haris Rauf between themselves have played 11 FC matches. Naseem Shah alone has played twice as many as both of them combined. The last time he played in Pindi he took hat-trick.
How on earth can they even consider playing Rauf and Wasim Jr. against a top-quality Australian side that just thrashed England at home? While leaving Naseem on the bench and Abbas outside altogether.
How on earth can they even consider playing Rauf and Wasim Jr. against a top-quality Australian side that just thrashed England at home? While leaving Naseem on the bench and Abbas outside altogether.
RedwoodOriginal
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Iftikhar did exceptionally well in the recent Quaid-e-Azam trophy. He scored 461 runs at an average of 51.2 and was man of the match in the final.
His selection is not the problem, rather that of Rauf and Wasim who have played only a handful of FC matches.
Savak
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Abbas bowls at 120 km/hr these days. He has been averaging close to 40 since that Australia series in the UAE in 2018. The PCB is rightfully moving on
His batting is of no 10.
Awful decision. Best to play 6 batsmen with rizwan and 3 seamers but with that it means both will play makes the Devi on even more stupid.
offstump
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Can see someone like Rauf ripping through the Aussie lineup in Pindi.
RedwoodOriginal
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Abbas's record on Pakistani pitches is very good. He is far more effective and experienced than any of these guys with a handful of FC games to their name.
Savak
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Nope. He has not really done anything of note on Pakistani wickets. We can't risk a 120 km/hr spinner against a side like Australia
Anis Shivani
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It's the correct decision. I wanted Wasim to be in the lineup in the first place, so I'm glad he's in now. He'll do fine. Iftikhar deserves to be there too, if domestic performances are to have any meaning. Abbas should no longer be in the squad, he's too slow and predictable, and has lost effectiveness. Surprised he was even considered. And Naseem needs more time rather than being rushed in again. This selector is the best we've had in recent years, and he would have done even better had there not been all kinds of pressure on him. He started off with a bang, and gave us new match-winners, but then the pressure from the different lobbies started taking a toll on him and he became more defensive. Faheem Ashraf is a big loss for the tests, as is Hassan Ali, and it's sad to see them give so much to the tamasha league and risk injury. SSA is also giving too much of himself to the PSL and I hope he has enough energy for the first test. Instead of Azhar and Shan (the latter is the most ridiculous selection of all) they should have given chances to a couple more young batsmen like Abdullah Shafique and Kamran Ghulam. And by the way, Abdullah Shafique will be one of Pakistan's all-time great batsmen in all formats. Check back in 10 years. How pathetic was Misbah to leave him on the bench for series after series will become clear over time. Time for Babar to reset after the big loss of confidence. There is too much T-20 and it's a seductive, wasteful drain. You feel dirty afterward, and want to forget it all. Cricket sadly going the baseball route.
RedwoodOriginal
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Where do you think he played all those QeA trophy matches that got him selected for Pakistan? Australia?
Your argument is childish to say the least. Just because he bowls at 120 doesn't overshadow the fact that he is very good on Pakistani pitches, has taken a mountain of wickets here and is certainly more adept and experienced at taking wickets on these pitches than two guys with 11 FC matches between them.
This is the problem with Pakistani fans and selectors. So obsessed with pace that logic and actual performances in FC cricket (instead of T20) are thrown right out the window.
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RedwoodOriginal
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And this is the most hilarious thing I have heard all day considering he demolished Australia in UAE by taking 17 wickets in 2 matches.
shah_1
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Insane decision to pick a rockie like Wasim so early.
They will play Wasim Jr at 7? What is the exact line up.
They will play Wasim Jr at 7? What is the exact line up.
HappyWarsFan
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I'm thinking Abdullah, Shan, Azhar, Babar, Fawad, Saud, Rizwan, Nauman, Sajid, Rauf, Shaheen
Savak
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He was bowling at 132-136 km/hr in that series. What has his performances been like in that series? What has been his avg speeds like since that series?
If you want to recall people based on past performances than present performances than we might as well recall the Ws
Savak
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Tell me his recent performances since that Australian series in 2018. You do realize he had the keeper standing up to him in Australia, England and NZ ie the most pacer friendly conditions he can find. Opponents have neutralized him by playing him with a straight bat and by coming down the wicket to him
gazza619
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Wasim Jr is a good number 10 batsman and not a good enough bowler to play test cricket.
Zaz
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Unbelievable decision
Whats the point of having reserves if your gonna do this??
Whats the point of having reserves if your gonna do this??
Exactly. Awful decision.
Officer Barbrady
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They are looking to replace faheem who bats at 7 and plays 5th bowler. Naseem and Abbas are specialist bowlers and tail Enders
Zaz
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They need to play 6 batsmen without faheem, they are asking for trouble having such a long tail
Officer Barbrady
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If they go with 6 bats then Haris is the second seamer alongside Shaheen and we have the two spinners. That’s why naseem doesn’t fit in their plans - they don’t intend to go in with 3 specialist seamers in any scenario
Zaz
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Lets see if they go with the 3-1 seam option or 2-2
In any case they need to ensure its not a long tail Pakistan wil be blown away if theres no batting from after 6
RedwoodOriginal
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That's too much of a gamble when the other front-line bowler is likely going to be a debutant. If it was Shaheen and Hasan, it would have been an acceptable replacement. But even then going with the extra batsman would have made more sense.
RedwoodOriginal
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You are absolutely wrong. Abbas bowled at pretty much the same pace in that series at which he has always bowled which is mid/late 120s to top 130s. His pace may have dropped a bit but that doesn't mean he can't dial it up.
Go look at a video of his 10 wicket haul against Australia. More than half of the wickets were taken on balls bowled under 130 kph. I doubt there was even a single wicket-taking ball bowled at 133+.
Just because you have an unhealthy obsession with pace doesn't mean its the only thing a bowler needs to be successful. Abbas's initial success was due to his discipline and his ability to make the ball talk. He struggled inregards to coming back with injuries but that does not overshadow the fact that he knows how to bowl on these pitches and has a better chance of succeeding against a team he has already taken 17 wickets against than someone who doesn't even have 17 FC wickets.
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Pakistan the litmus test of Cummins’ vision for team
In January 1995, Aamir Nazir set what must be the record for most minimal Test match preparation by a selected player. An injury replacement, he was named in Pakistan’s XI to play South Africa in Johannesburg about 30 minutes after his flight touched down at O.R. Tambo International Airport.
Having spent 14 hours in the air, Nazir made it onto the field 35 minutes after play began. He broke down with cramp in the first innings, and went for more than 4.5 runs per over during a match the Proteas won by 324 runs.
Australia’s preparation time for their tour of Pakistan is a little more generous than Nazir’s, but four days between their arrival in Islamabad on Sunday and Friday’s first ball of the series in Rawalpindi is cutting it extremely fine.
As such, at the end of a wrestle over the team’s future environment that saw the coach Justin Langer resign, a tight biosecurity and security bubble will provide the sternest test yet of the atmosphere captain Pat Cummins wants to oversee.
He has made it plain that he wants it to be one in which players and support staff alike have a good degree of autonomy, figuring that the most successful teams know how to relieve pressure on themselves and then pour it onto the opposition.
“I really hope so. It’s a weird one because these tours where you’re stuck in a hotel room can kind of go one of two ways,” Cummins said on arrival for their first trip to Pakistan since 1998. “But I think with this group we’ve got, everyone’s so keen.
“Even just the first hour or two we were here, people were already setting up coffee machines and PlayStations and cards and all the little things that they’ve packed to make it an enjoyable time. It’s got a really good feeling about it.
“This is a really good test, you don’t get any more foreign conditions to Australia than coming to the subcontinent, so I hope so. It’s got a great feeling, so we’ll see how it goes.”
The Australians started their tour with a week’s training camp in Melbourne, where practice pitches at the MCG were tricked up to aid spin and reverse swing. Cummins said the touring side’s attitude was of a group needing only a few more sessions in Pakistan to be ready for day one of the series.
“We knew this was what the lead-in was going to be, so we thought we could achieve a lot of it back home,” he said. “I think it actually rained here in Islamabad the last three or four days, so luckily we probably got more work in back home than if we ended up coming here early.”
In terms of the team’s approach, Cummins said they needed to be adaptable to the numerous kinds of pitches that might be prepared, but with an overall understanding that Tests in Pakistan are more likely to go five days. Control of tempo will be vital.
“It’s more the style of cricket [that changes] and we talk about that. We had three Test matches that went for three days this Ashes series,” he said. “I’d be surprised if some of these Test matches were that short.
“Over here the conditions can be quite flat, at times you can have periods of the game where it’s not moving very fast and then other times it can speed up, especially late in the game. So whatever our discipline is, batting or bowling, it’s making sure we’re in control of the tempo, sticking at it.”
Meanwhile, in Christchurch, Ellyse Perry made 62 and took 2-6 but left the field early with foot soreness during Australia’s 90-run win over West Indies in a World Cup warm-up match.
Perry’s innings helped provide a platform from which Annabel Sutherland launched in the closing overs, clouting 54 from 37 balls to lift Australia to 7-259.
After Perry made an early impact with the ball before leaving the field, Alana King (2-18), Tahlia McGrath (2-17), Sutherland (2-19) and Ash Gardner (1-15) then ensured West Indies did not get close to their target.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...-cummins-vision-for-team-20220227-p5a04n.html
In January 1995, Aamir Nazir set what must be the record for most minimal Test match preparation by a selected player. An injury replacement, he was named in Pakistan’s XI to play South Africa in Johannesburg about 30 minutes after his flight touched down at O.R. Tambo International Airport.
Having spent 14 hours in the air, Nazir made it onto the field 35 minutes after play began. He broke down with cramp in the first innings, and went for more than 4.5 runs per over during a match the Proteas won by 324 runs.
Australia’s preparation time for their tour of Pakistan is a little more generous than Nazir’s, but four days between their arrival in Islamabad on Sunday and Friday’s first ball of the series in Rawalpindi is cutting it extremely fine.
As such, at the end of a wrestle over the team’s future environment that saw the coach Justin Langer resign, a tight biosecurity and security bubble will provide the sternest test yet of the atmosphere captain Pat Cummins wants to oversee.
He has made it plain that he wants it to be one in which players and support staff alike have a good degree of autonomy, figuring that the most successful teams know how to relieve pressure on themselves and then pour it onto the opposition.
“I really hope so. It’s a weird one because these tours where you’re stuck in a hotel room can kind of go one of two ways,” Cummins said on arrival for their first trip to Pakistan since 1998. “But I think with this group we’ve got, everyone’s so keen.
“Even just the first hour or two we were here, people were already setting up coffee machines and PlayStations and cards and all the little things that they’ve packed to make it an enjoyable time. It’s got a really good feeling about it.
“This is a really good test, you don’t get any more foreign conditions to Australia than coming to the subcontinent, so I hope so. It’s got a great feeling, so we’ll see how it goes.”
The Australians started their tour with a week’s training camp in Melbourne, where practice pitches at the MCG were tricked up to aid spin and reverse swing. Cummins said the touring side’s attitude was of a group needing only a few more sessions in Pakistan to be ready for day one of the series.
“We knew this was what the lead-in was going to be, so we thought we could achieve a lot of it back home,” he said. “I think it actually rained here in Islamabad the last three or four days, so luckily we probably got more work in back home than if we ended up coming here early.”
In terms of the team’s approach, Cummins said they needed to be adaptable to the numerous kinds of pitches that might be prepared, but with an overall understanding that Tests in Pakistan are more likely to go five days. Control of tempo will be vital.
“It’s more the style of cricket [that changes] and we talk about that. We had three Test matches that went for three days this Ashes series,” he said. “I’d be surprised if some of these Test matches were that short.
“Over here the conditions can be quite flat, at times you can have periods of the game where it’s not moving very fast and then other times it can speed up, especially late in the game. So whatever our discipline is, batting or bowling, it’s making sure we’re in control of the tempo, sticking at it.”
Meanwhile, in Christchurch, Ellyse Perry made 62 and took 2-6 but left the field early with foot soreness during Australia’s 90-run win over West Indies in a World Cup warm-up match.
Perry’s innings helped provide a platform from which Annabel Sutherland launched in the closing overs, clouting 54 from 37 balls to lift Australia to 7-259.
After Perry made an early impact with the ball before leaving the field, Alana King (2-18), Tahlia McGrath (2-17), Sutherland (2-19) and Ash Gardner (1-15) then ensured West Indies did not get close to their target.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...-cummins-vision-for-team-20220227-p5a04n.html
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shah_1
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There is no way Wasim should bat at 7. It would be also be a travesty if they pick ttf ifti chacha ahead of Saud Shakeel.
No hasan Ali is a huge loss, our best test bowler by far.
No hasan Ali is a huge loss, our best test bowler by far.
Wasim is good no 10 or a 9 nothing more then that.
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Pictures (courtesy of the PCB) of Pakistan Test squad training ahead of the 1st Test against Australia.
Arsal_AK
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I see Naseem in the pictures. There might be hope yet.
Savak
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You have not answered the question in regards to Abbas form and stats before the Australian series of 2018 and after that series?
He has since that series been neutralized by South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand. He was dropped for a reason because he just became ineffective especially when batsmen started to come outside the crease to him. The PCB did not drop him for no reason. He is no longer the bowler you think he is
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The entire Pakistan Test squad and support staff has now reported in the team hotel in Islamabad. Other than Iftikhar and Wasim Jnr, the rest of the squad and support staff will take part in the team practice session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium tomorrow -
Iftikhar and Wasim Jnr are undergoing their three-day isolation as announced last night.
Iftikhar and Wasim Jnr are undergoing their three-day isolation as announced last night.
RedwoodOriginal
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Don't need to. I already mentioned that he struggled after his injury. Rizwan and Sarfraz were standing up to him in the Australia series too. Didn't stop him from taking 17 wickets. And btw you know of another bowler who bowled in the 120s and to whom the keeper regularly stood-up? Vernon Philander.
Abbas can still make the ball move. But I'd suggest you may closer attention to the bowling speed bar next time. Because its obvious you are not clearly seeing the bowling speeds.
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CrIc_Mystique
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I guess one big factor which is not discussed is your guys playing T20 till sunday and now have a test match on friday against quality opponents. An FC match would defo have helped but i suppose with the scheduling and the virus situaiton does'nt help. The same goes for Aus, landing in from the cold into the cauldron of hard test cricket.
New normal nowadays, adapt or perish.
As a neutral am looking forwrd to Fawad Alam - my man, Pak's mike hussey. Dude has a fantastic non complaining attitude, has worked hard to get to where he is. just get an inkling this will be his series.
I also wish Dahanni was selected - another guy i enjoy watching - a guy who really loves his time playing for his team, what a happy bloke!
I'd expect SSA and yassir to roll over Aus- their dad's army batting lineukp ain't that flash in SC conditions-series will be xciting !
New normal nowadays, adapt or perish.
As a neutral am looking forwrd to Fawad Alam - my man, Pak's mike hussey. Dude has a fantastic non complaining attitude, has worked hard to get to where he is. just get an inkling this will be his series.
I also wish Dahanni was selected - another guy i enjoy watching - a guy who really loves his time playing for his team, what a happy bloke!
I'd expect SSA and yassir to roll over Aus- their dad's army batting lineukp ain't that flash in SC conditions-series will be xciting !
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Hassaan HS
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Pictures (courtesy of CA Media) of Australia Test squad practicing ahead of the 1st Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi
Are these from today? And Haris has just tested positive.
Are we about to see a huge outbreak in the squad?
RedwoodOriginal
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This does not look good. Hopefully the other guys return negative tests otherwise we could have the entire bowling attack being COVID positive.
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Australia practicing today
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Above 2 pictures of Haris have now been removed from PCB twitter
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Both sides practicing hard....
Rana
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Gunning for a Saud Shaqeel or Kamran Ghulam debut if not both
Rana
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Has anyone seen any pictures or videos of David Warner training? I’ve seen instagram stories of him inside the hotel but not once at the ground with the rest of the team. Is the guy too scared to leave the hotel?
Arsal_AK
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In place of whom?
Rana
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Probably a weak opener and Azhar Ali ideally
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Smith imitating David Warner
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 178.218%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/ltihgc" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 178.218%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/ltihgc" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I welcome the Australian cricket team to Pakistan after an absence of 24 yrs. Pakistan's cricket lovers have always had great respect & admiration for Australian cricket & we are all looking forward to a highly competitive & interesting series. Good luck to both teams.</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1499671850867175425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Tape Ball Star
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2019
- Runs
- 940
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 218,132
Rawalpindi, 4 March 2022: Faisal Hasnain, CEO of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley, International Cricket Council CEO Geoff Allardice, and Australia Cricketers’ Association CEO Todd Greenberg, held a joint-press conference at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday ahead of the first Test between Pakistan and Australia for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy.
While the four senior cricket administrators shared their views on the importance and significance of the series and reflected on the work done in the background to make happen the first series between the two sides in Pakistan in 24 years, they also paid tributes to legendary Australia wicketkeeper Rodney Marsh, who sadly passed this morning at the age of 74.
PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain: “Today, this is an exciting moment for Pakistan cricket and I am absolutely delighted and feel privileged to be here in the company of Geoff Allardice, Nick Hockley and Todd Greenberg. Their presence here demonstrates their commitment and their support for this tour.
“There are many people on both sides who have worked tirelessly over many months to make this tour a reality. This tour sends out a strong and a positive message to the entire world.
“I am confident that when the Australian team returns home, they will take fond memories with them and will all become ambassadors of Pakistan.
“Now that the Pakistan-Australia series will be played for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy, there will be further context and something exciting and significant to play for. I thank Cricket Australia for agreeing to this proposal.
“This tour is not just about cricket. It’s about mutual respect, understanding and admiration. It’s about all sides working together as a team, towards a common objective and with a sincere intent, and that’s why we're all sitting here and demonstrating to the world that the international cricketing community remains firm in its unity.
“Whatever the result on the field, whatever the outcome, the ultimate winner will be this glorious game of cricket.”
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice: “I think a strong Pakistan is very important for international cricket.
“I know this series is an important one for the PCB and cricket fans in Pakistan. I think over the last five years, this Australia side will be the sixth Test playing nation to visit Pakistan during that period. It’s a significant moment for both the sides.”
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Nick Hockley: “Today is such a such historic day, we’ve been looking forward to it and I could not be more thrilled to be here in Pakistan. The welcome that we’ve received has been just really overwhelming and the excitement among our playing group has just been palpable.”
“On behalf of Cricket Australia, I just want to say an enormous thank you to the PCB, to everyone in Pakistan and the ACA. I think it’s been a wonderful team effort and we just can't wait for that first ball to be bowled.
Australia Cricketers’ Association Chief Executive Todd Greenberg: “Our players are unbelievably excited to be here in Pakistan and would like me, to convey on their behalf, their thanks to the PCB, the government and, particularly, the people of Pakistan for the warm welcome they’ve received.
“A lot of players were very anxious about this tour some months ago, but that anxiety has turned to real excitement and that’s a really positive sign for global cricket. It’s really positive sign that the Australian cricket team are here, and we understand our contribution and our responsibility to the global game, which is why this tour is so significantly important.
“To the people of Pakistan, when the roads are closed and the cavalcade come through, we understand that creates some other difficulties for people in Pakistan. We want to say thank you and we appreciate that effort to allow us to be secure and to get to the ground and to get to training and all those sorts of things.”
https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-releas...ual-respect-understanding-and-admiration.html
While the four senior cricket administrators shared their views on the importance and significance of the series and reflected on the work done in the background to make happen the first series between the two sides in Pakistan in 24 years, they also paid tributes to legendary Australia wicketkeeper Rodney Marsh, who sadly passed this morning at the age of 74.
PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain: “Today, this is an exciting moment for Pakistan cricket and I am absolutely delighted and feel privileged to be here in the company of Geoff Allardice, Nick Hockley and Todd Greenberg. Their presence here demonstrates their commitment and their support for this tour.
“There are many people on both sides who have worked tirelessly over many months to make this tour a reality. This tour sends out a strong and a positive message to the entire world.
“I am confident that when the Australian team returns home, they will take fond memories with them and will all become ambassadors of Pakistan.
“Now that the Pakistan-Australia series will be played for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy, there will be further context and something exciting and significant to play for. I thank Cricket Australia for agreeing to this proposal.
“This tour is not just about cricket. It’s about mutual respect, understanding and admiration. It’s about all sides working together as a team, towards a common objective and with a sincere intent, and that’s why we're all sitting here and demonstrating to the world that the international cricketing community remains firm in its unity.
“Whatever the result on the field, whatever the outcome, the ultimate winner will be this glorious game of cricket.”
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice: “I think a strong Pakistan is very important for international cricket.
“I know this series is an important one for the PCB and cricket fans in Pakistan. I think over the last five years, this Australia side will be the sixth Test playing nation to visit Pakistan during that period. It’s a significant moment for both the sides.”
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Nick Hockley: “Today is such a such historic day, we’ve been looking forward to it and I could not be more thrilled to be here in Pakistan. The welcome that we’ve received has been just really overwhelming and the excitement among our playing group has just been palpable.”
“On behalf of Cricket Australia, I just want to say an enormous thank you to the PCB, to everyone in Pakistan and the ACA. I think it’s been a wonderful team effort and we just can't wait for that first ball to be bowled.
Australia Cricketers’ Association Chief Executive Todd Greenberg: “Our players are unbelievably excited to be here in Pakistan and would like me, to convey on their behalf, their thanks to the PCB, the government and, particularly, the people of Pakistan for the warm welcome they’ve received.
“A lot of players were very anxious about this tour some months ago, but that anxiety has turned to real excitement and that’s a really positive sign for global cricket. It’s really positive sign that the Australian cricket team are here, and we understand our contribution and our responsibility to the global game, which is why this tour is so significantly important.
“To the people of Pakistan, when the roads are closed and the cavalcade come through, we understand that creates some other difficulties for people in Pakistan. We want to say thank you and we appreciate that effort to allow us to be secure and to get to the ground and to get to training and all those sorts of things.”
https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-releas...ual-respect-understanding-and-admiration.html
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 218,132
Pictures (courtesy of PCB) of Pakistan squad practicing ahead of the 2nd Test against Australia which starts on 12th March
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- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 218,132
Pictures (courtesy of PCB) of the Australia squad practicing ahead of the Karachi Test
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ODI Debutant
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2014
- Runs
- 10,875
ask_analyse_act
ODI Debutant
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2014
- Runs
- 10,875
No idea why they select Zahid mehmood and benched Yasir Shah..
Well his stats is also not that good, comparatively.. Wasim the PPT selector sounds like he has a lot of knowledge but with his selections in reality reflects that he is another Ilyas or Qasim.
Zahid mehmood always looks like someone who is uninterested and a very meek character
Babeikh
Tape Ball Captain
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2021
- Runs
- 1,156
Yasir Shah is injured
No he got a fifer today. He is playing pakistan cup even shadab played today. Wasim Junior and Haider ali performed v poorly
Babeikh
Tape Ball Captain
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2021
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- 1,156
Thanks. Babar said last week that he was unfit. May be a case of getting back to match fitness before playing test cricket.
Bring able to to bowl 10 overs and 30 overs is totally different game.
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Tape Ball Star
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2019
- Runs
- 940
Pictures (courtesy of PCB) of the Australia squad practicing ahead of the Karachi Test
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 218,132
David Warner looking good
