Cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a strategic move by releasing spinner Abrar Ahmed and top-order batter Kamran Ghulam from the Pakistan squad for the first Test against Bangladesh. This decision stems from the selectors' preference for an all-pace attack in the opening match of the ICC World Test Championship.To ensure that Ahmed and Ghulam maintain match fitness, they have been included in the Pakistan Shaheens squad for the second four-day match against Bangladesh 'A', commencing on August 20 at the Islamabad Club. Ghulam has been appointed as the captain of the Shaheens for this encounter.The PCB's decision to release Ahmed and Ghulam from the Test squad is aimed at providing them with valuable match practice ahead of the second Test, which will be played in Karachi from August 30. This move will allow them to regain their rhythm and prepare for the challenges of the upcoming Test.As a result of these changes, the Pakistan Test squad has been reduced to 15 players. However, it will revert to its original strength of 17 players after the conclusion of the second four-day match, when Ahmed and Ghulam will rejoin the side for the Karachi Test.Several players have been transferred between the Pakistan Test and Shaheens squads. Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Saud Shakeel have joined the Test side, while Mohammad Rameez Jnr has been omitted from the Shaheens squad for the second four-day match.The Shaheens squad for the second four-day match has been bolstered by the inclusion of Abrar Ahmed, Ali Zaryab Asif, Awais Anwar, Imam Ul Haq, Niaz Khan, Qasim Akram, Rohail Nazir, and Sharoon Siraj. These players will replace the eight players who have joined the Test side.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has embarked on a mission to enhance the exposure of its backup players through a series of international matches for its national A and junior teams. This initiative follows the lead of other leading cricket nations and aims to provide a pathway for talented players to gain valuable experience against international opposition.The PCB has announced that the Pakistan Shaheens will engage in a return series of four-day and one-day matches against Bangladesh A in August. Additionally, Sri Lanka A will tour Pakistan in November for a five-match series."The objective is to revitalize pathway cricket projects so that our backup talent consistently receives exposure to international cricket against teams other than domestic opponents," stated a PCB official.The Pakistan Shaheens will face Bangladesh A in two four-day matches in August, followed by three 50-over fixtures. Notably, the Bangladesh national team will also be in Pakistan during August for two ICC World Test Championship matches.In November, Sri Lanka A will visit Pakistan for five matches against the Pakistan Shaheens. The four-day matches will be played from November 11-14 and November 18-21, while the 50-over clashes will take place on November 25, 27, and 29. Venues will be announced in due course.The Pakistan Emerging team will defend its ACC Cup title in October, while the Pakistan U-19 team will participate in a U-19 50-over Tri-Nation Tournament and ACC Asia Cup U-19 in November/December.According to sources, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi emphasized the importance of arranging matches against other teams for the Pakistan A and junior outfits following the disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup."During meetings with Pakistan team coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillispie, as well as the national selectors, it was unanimously agreed that Pakistan's backup talent requires regular games, similar to other teams like India, England, and Australia," a source said.The Pakistan Shaheens are currently in Darwin for two four-day games against Bangladesh A, having won the opening match on Monday. They will also play white-ball matches.

Jason Gillespie, the newly appointed Test coach of Pakistan, will lead the Pakistan Shaheens (Pakistan A) on a tour to Darwin, Australia, next month. The tour will feature two four-day matches against Bangladesh A, as well as participation in the Top End T20 series.Gillespie, who recently resigned as coach of South Australia and the Adelaide Strikers, expressed his excitement about the opportunity to coach Pakistan's Test side. "It's an honour," he said. "I've been coaching for quite a while now in various roles around the world, but one thing I haven't done is coach an international Test side. When this opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it."The Shaheens will play two four-day games against Bangladesh A from July 19-22 and 26-29. Gillespie will serve as head coach for these matches before returning to Pakistan to prepare for a two-Test series against Bangladesh.During the tour, the Shaheens will also play 50-over matches against Northern Territory and Bangladesh A. They will then participate in the Top End T20 series, which will feature nine teams, including Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Strikers, and Tasmania.The PCB has announced a Shaheens' squad for the tour, which includes fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, who made his Test debut against Australia in Perth last year.The Top End T20 series will provide pre-season opportunities for Australian domestic cricketers who are not involved in overseas competitions. "The competition adds another layer to what our pre-season would typically be, exposing players to tournament conditions ahead of the Australian domestic season," said Kade Harvey, Perth Scorchers' general manager.The PCB expressed gratitude to Northern Territory for inviting the Pakistan Shaheens for the second consecutive year. "Last year, the players had a memorable experience and enjoyed playing and performing in excellent playing conditions, in front of enthusiastic cricket fans," said Usman Wahla, PCB director of international cricket.