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Pak vs SL: ‘Didn’t feel unsafe’, Babar Azam rebuffs security concerns in Sri Lanka

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  • Babar Azam says “Sri Lanka Cricket has looked after us really well and security provided to us is great”.
  • Says team will try their best to perform well in series and is well prepared for task.
  • Says, “I sent a message to Kohli to extend him support.”

GALLE: Pakistan skipper Babar Azam Friday expressed confidence in the security arrangements for the national Test squad that is visiting Galle for a Test series, as Sri Lanka goes through countrywide protests against the president and prime minister seeking their resignations.

Speaking to the press ahead of the first of the two-match series slated to begin July 16 at Galle International Stadium, Babar said that the team is being “looked after well” by the local authorities.

The squad arrived in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo last week when the economic crisis sparked protests there, forcing Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign as the country’s president. The team played a three-day warm-up match in the capital and then travelled to Galle.

“We didn’t feel unsafe here in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Cricket has looked after us really well and the security provided to us is great,” the Pakistani captain said, adding they also played a warm-up game there so everything was fine and they were focused on the series.

“There were no hurdles that made us feel unsafe.”

The star batter said Sri Lankan people love cricket and they saw a lot of enthusiasm in the Test series against Australia.

“We hope fans will come to the stadium in this series as well.”

‘We are prepared for Test series’

The Pakistani captain said that the team will try its best to perform well in the series and was well prepared for the task.

“I like the ground in Galle. The Sri Lankan team is very tough in home conditions,” Babar Azam said, adding that Australia’s series first gave the team an idea of what the conditions would be like.

“We have come here to play after a long time, we have done our homework.”

Galle pitch supports spinners a lot, the skipper said. “Sri Lankan spinners are very good and we have prepared accordingly.”

Defending the inclusion of Yasir Shah in the squad, Babar said he has come back after hard work and hoped that he will give a tough time to the rival team.

‘Virat Kohli needs support’

In a message of support to former Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who is going through a rough patch, Babar said that as a player, he knows how to get through and out of tough situations.

“Players need sport at such a time, I sent a message to Kohli to give him support.”

Babar said that Kohli was a great player and played a lot of cricket.

“Virat Kohli knows how to get out of these things, it takes time but we should lend him support so he comes of out it sooner than earlier,” he concluded.

On late Thursday, Babar tweeted a photo with Kohli and extended his support to the former Indian skipper. “This too shall pass. Stay strong,” Babar had written for Kohli who last made his international century in 2019. 

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Haris Rauf and Usman Khan have been included in Pakistan’s ODI team for New Zealand.

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The Pakistan team management has directed fast bowler Haris Rauf and wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan to remain in New Zealand and integrate into the ODI squad for the forthcoming series.

Simultaneously, eight players from the T20 squad will return to Pakistan, while five others have been integrated into the ODI team in Napier.

After concluding the T20 series, the Pakistan team and coaching staff journeyed from Wellington to Napier. Rauf and Usman, initially members of the T20 squad, have now been incorporated into the ODI roster.

The ODI team now comprises Salman Ali Agha, Haris Rauf, Khushdil Shah, Irfan Khan Niazi, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem, Muhammad Ali, and Usman Khan.

Simultaneously, Captain Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, and seven additional ODI players were present in Napier. The eight remaining T20 team members, comprising Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Umair Bin Yousuf, Hassan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Abbas Afridi, Abdul Samad, and Jahandad Khan, will return to Pakistan through Dubai.

The three-match ODI series between Pakistan and New Zealand is scheduled to commence on March 29.

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NZ thrash Pakistan in the last Twenty20 match and hit the target in ten overs.

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Tim Siefert’s scorching undefeated score of 97 helped New Zealand overcome Pakistan handily in the last game of the five-match Twenty20 series.

Additionally, Pakistan’s bowlers were costly in the last Twenty20 match. In two overs, Jahandad Khan scored 43 runs at an economy of 21.5, Shadab Khan scored 33 runs at an economy of 16.5, Muhammad Ali scored 27 runs, and Haris Rauf scored 22 runs. In just two overs, Sufiyan Muqeem claimed two wickets and conceded just six runs, demonstrating exceptional performance.

The Pakistani batting line was unable to score a significant amount in the last Twenty20 International of the five-match series.

At Wellington Regional Stadium, New Zealand won the toss and asked Pakistan to bat first in the sixth Twenty20 International.

As they continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, Pakistan managed to score 128 for nine wickets. In keeping with his recent success, captain Salman Ali Agha scored a half-century before being removed at 51. Mohammad Haris scored 11 and vice captain Shadab Khan scored 28.

None of Pakistan’s batters managed to reach double figures save for these three.

With the ball, James Neesham was outstanding as he recorded his first T20 fifer. Ben Sears and Ish Sodhi shared one wicket each, but Jacob Duffy took two.

Following Pakistan’s defeat in three of the four series games, the visitors made five changes to their starting lineup.

The playing XI now includes Omair Bin Yousuf, Usman Khan, Jahandad Khan, and Sufiyan Muqeem, while Shaheen Afridi, Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Abbas Afridi, and Abrar Ahmed were dropped.

Even after his contentious return to international cricket, Shadab Khan has managed to get a spot in the fifth consecutive Twenty20 International despite his dismal domestic play. He still serves as the team’s deputy captain for Pakistan.

In the last four games, the all-rounder has scored 30 runs and claimed just one wicket at an economy rate of 10 and an average of 110.

The team’s bowling unit was not playing up to par, according to bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, who also highlighted the difficulties caused by bounce and pace in New Zealand.

He suggested that Haris Rauf’s playing XI would change for the final game and commended him for his bowling performance.

New Zealand leads the five-bout match 3-1 and has already claimed the series.

The Pakistani

Hasan Nawaz, Omair Bin Yousuf, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, Sufyan Moqim, Mohammad Haris (wk), Salman Ali Agha (c), and the following individuals

New Zealand:

Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitch Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke

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Pakistan and Bangladesh exclude ODIs from their bilateral series.

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The cricket boards of Pakistan and Bangladesh have resolved to eliminate ODIs from their forthcoming bilateral series.

Sources indicate that the two teams, set to compete in May, will not engage in any One Day Internationals. In light of the forthcoming T20 World Cup, the boards have collaboratively decided to substitute ODIs with T20 matches.

According to the initial itinerary, Bangladesh was scheduled to compete in three ODIs and three T20Is in Pakistan. The updated schedule now comprises five T20I matches.

Sources have said that Pakistan would visit Bangladesh outside the planned itinerary to compete in a T20I series, with a three-match T20I series anticipated in July.

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