Pakistan T20I squad returns negative COVID-19 tests on arrival in Bangladesh
Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik are set to reach Bangladesh on Tuesday.
The Pakistan cricket team arrived in Bangladesh on Saturday, November 13 to take part in a bilateral series, starting Friday, November 19. The tour starts with three T20Is at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. The white-ball games will be followed by a two-match Test series from Friday, November 26. Chattogram and Dhaka will play hosts to the red-ball encounters.
The Men in Green were previously scheduled to reach Bangladesh on Tuesday, November 16. But they arrived a couple of days earlier after losing to Australia in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2021 on Thursday, November 11 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Only the skipper Babar Azam and the 39-year-old Shoaib Malik are set to arrive on Tuesday.
Pakistan team to start net sessions on Tuesday
In the meantime, it’s been learned that the squad that landed in Dhaka has returned negative COVID-19 test results. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), put forth the development on Saturday, Crickwick reported. The squad is now set to start their net sessions from Monday, September 15. Pakistan have already named a strong 18-member T20I squad for the bilateral series abroad.
Mohammad Hafeez, who played the T20 World Cup, has opted out of the tour as he wanted the youngsters to get an opportunity. Iftikhar Ahmed, who wasn’t a part of the mega event, replaced him. Iftikhar was also exceptional for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the previous edition of the National T20 Cup, having scored 409 runs and picking up eight wickets.
Haider Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mohammad Wasim Jr, who all didn’t get a game in the World Cup, have been picked. Shadab Khan has been named as Babar’s deputy for the 20-over format .
Pakistan squad
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shoaib Malik, Usman Qadir
Pakistan have looked in ominous form of late, having won all their five Super 12 matches in the World Cup. However, Australia beat them by five wickets to end their campaign in the T20 tournament. The loss also brought an end to Pakistan’s 16-match winning streak in the format in the UAE.
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