HYDERABAD: Pakistan Men’s cricket team is undergoing a training session today at the Gymkhana ground in Hyderabad ahead of their ICC World Cup 2023 clash against Sri Lanka on October 10 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Muhammad Wasim Jr., Haris Rauf, Saud Shakeel, as well as reserve players Muhammad Haris, Zaman Khan and Abrar Ahmed are undergoing training drills.
The Green Shirts scripted a decent start to their campaign with a resounding 81-run victory over the Netherlands on Friday at the same venue.
A combined bowling effort after Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel’s anchoring half-centuries propelled Pakistan to taste their maiden success in the mega event.
Set to chase 287, the Netherlands could score 205 despite Bas de Leede and Vikramjit Singh’s half-centuries.
Singh scored 52 off 67 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and a six while de Leede top-scored for the Dutch with a 68-ball 67 which included six boundaries and two sixes.
Besides them, Logan van Beek offered some resistance with his unbeaten 28-run cameo.
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Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with 3/43, followed by Hasan Ali with 2/33 while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz struck out a batter each.
Put into bat first, Pakistan could register a below-par total of 286 runs on the board despite anchoring half-centuries.
Pakistan got off to a dismal start as they lost their top three Fakhar Zaman (12), Imam-ul-Haq (15) and Babar Azam (5) with just 38 runs on the board in 9.1 overs.
Following the slump, wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan was joined by young Saud Shakeel at the crease and the pair launched an astounding recovery.
Saud scored a brisk 68 in 52 deliveries, laced with nine boundaries and a six while Rizwan scored 75-ball 68, hitting eight boundaries.
All-rounders Shadab Khan (32) and Mohammad Nawaz (39) then put together a crucial partnership for the seventh wicket and added 64 runs to the total.
Pakistan squad for ICC World Cup 2023
Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha.
Travelling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan
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