Fakhar, Hasan shine as Saim Ayub XI defeat Salman Agha XI in practice match

KARACHI: Fakhar Zaman and Hasan Nawaz starred as Saim Ayub XI outplayed Salman Agha XI by seven wickets in an intra-squad practice match here on Friday.

The match was held at the National Bank Stadium during Pakistan’s third day of training camp in preparation for the upcoming three-match series against Bangladesh.

Salman Agha XI scored 183-8 while batting first, with Hussain Talat top-scoring with 40. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who are not part of the T20I squad, scored 33 and 24 runs respectively, while Salman Agha scored 32

For Saim Ayub XI, pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and all-rounder Mohammad Wasim Jnr picked up two wickets each. Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed also scalped one wicket.

In reply, Saim Ayub XI successfully chased the 184-run target, losing only three wickets in the process. Fakhar Zaman (51) and Saim Ayub (34) showed good form, while middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz contributed with a solid 57 runs. Mohammad Haris also chipped in with 25 runs.

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For Salman Agha XI, Sufiyan Moqim scalped two wickets and Khushdil Shah took one wicket.

It is noteworthy to mention that, apart from the squad members, five additional players are also part of the training camp. These players include Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Wasim Jr.

The 15-member Pakistan squad is training for a week before departing for Bangladesh on 16 July.

After wrapping up the Bangladesh tour, the Green Shirts will travel to the United States of America (USA) to face the West Indies in a three-match T20I series in Florida, set to take place from August 1 to 4.

Both sides will then head to Trinidad and Tobago for a three-match ODI series scheduled between August 8 and 12.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce the final T20I and ODI squads for both assignments in the coming days.

Pakistan squad for Bangladesh series:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim

Pakistan-Bangladesh T20I Series Schedule 

20 July – First T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

22 July – Second T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

24 July – Third T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

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