PCB announces squad for first ODI against New Zealand
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan on Wednesday announced their 12-player squad for the first One-Day International against New Zealand, which will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on September 17 (Friday). The match will start at 2:30 PM, Pakistani time.
Squad:
Babar Azam (captain)
Shadab Khan (vice-captain)
Fakhar Zaman
Haris Rauf
Hasan Ali
Iftikhar Ahmed
Imam-ul-Haq
Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper)
Saud Shakil
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Usman Qadir
Zahid Mahmood
The second and third ODIs will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on 19 and 21 September, while Gaddafi Stadium will host the T20Is from 25 September to 3 October against New Zealand.
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On September 13, new PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja had revealed names of two foreign coaches for Pakistan. They would initially be contracted for T20 World Cup only.
Former Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden and former South African bowling all-rounder Vernon Philander will become part of Pakistan’s coaching staff ahead of the World Cup, Ramiz Raja had announced this in his first press conference as a chairman.
Ramiz Raja had said that former coaches Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis worked honestly. “The role of former cricketers in the board is important and advice will be needed to improve the game and take Pakistan cricket forward,” he had maintained.
He had said that the performance of the cricket board was linked to the performance of the team. The coaching of the Pakistan cricket team had to be improved and the talent had to be further improved.
The new PCB chairman had said that first class cricket would be improved by improving the technique. He had said there was a need to work on preparing of pitches in Pakistan as pitches had the status of jugular vein in cricket.
