Pakistan’s Four-Day intra-squad match to start today
Pakistan men’s squad will take part in a four-day intra-squad match from today (July 17) at the Derbyshire County Ground. Pakistan men’s Test captain Azhar Ali will lead Team Green, while Babar Azam, the Test vice-captain and captain of the white ball teams, will skipper Team White.
This is the first of the two four-day matches that the squad will play ahead of their three World Test Championship fixtures against England. Previously, the squad played two two-day matches during their 14-day quarantine period in Worcester.
Team Green: Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Asad Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Yasir Shah, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Abbas and Wahab Riaz.
12th man: Imran Khan
Team White: Babar Azam (c), Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sohail Khan, Mohammad Musa, Usman Khan Shinwari and Haider Ali
12th man: Kashif Bhatti.
The match will begin at 11am local time.
Azhar Ali-led Team Green were 318 for eight at the end of the opening day of the two-day inter-squad match against Team White at Worcester.Opener Abid Ali and Babar Azam scored half-centuries. Abid made 71 which included 10 fours and a six and crafted a solid 110-run partnership for the second wicket with captain Azhar, who was dismissed after scoring 47.
Babar smashed 13 fours in his 122-ball 82 before he was retired out.
The evening session saw Mohammad Rizwan put his batting skills on display as he was not out on 47 at stumps. Left-arm quick Shaheen Afridi starred for Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Team Whites with four for 91. Mohammad Abbas was the other notable bowler as the right-arm medium fast accounted for two wickets. Pacer Naseem Shah and spinner Fakhar Zaman picked up a wicket each. The final day’s play will commence at 11am local time.
Scores in brief: Team Green 318 -8, 90 overs (Babar Azam 82 (retired out), Abid Ali 71, Mohammad Rizwan 47, Azhar Ali 47; Shaheen Afridi 4-91, Mohammad Abbas 2-49)
Following the 14-day self-isolation period in Worcester, the Pakistan men’s national cricket team will arrive in Derby today (Monday) for the second-leg of their training and practice camp ahead of their first Test, which commences at Old Trafford, Manchester, from 5 August.
The following is the schedule of the squad’s training and media opportunities (all timing as per the British Summer Time):
14 July: A member of the side will be available for media interaction through videoconference call. Details will be shared closer to time.
15 and 16 July: The side will hold morning and afternoon training sessions, starting at 10am and 2pm, respectively. The PCB will provide photographs and videos of the sessions.
17-20 July: The squad will play a four-day intra-squad practice match. PCB will provide session-wise score updates, photographs and videos of the match.
21 July: A member of the side will be available for media interaction through videoconference call. Details will be shared closer to time.
22 and 23 July: The side will hold morning and afternoon training sessions, starting at 10am and 2pm, respectively. The PCB will provide photographs and videos of the sessions.
24-27 July: The side will play a four-day intra-squad practice match. PCB will provide session-wise score updates, photographs and videos of the match.
28 July: A member of the side will be available for a media interaction through videoconference call. Details will be shared closer to time.
29 and 30 July: The side will hold morning and afternoon training sessions, starting at 10am and 2pm, respectively. The PCB will provide photographs and videos of the sessions.
1 August: Side travels to Manchester.
