Page 20 - Pakistan Link - November 24, 2023

P20 - PAKISTAN LINK - NOVEMBER 24, 2023 SPORTS
cated Australian conditions at the Pindi Pakistan Replicating Australian Conditions Mir Hamza) to represent Pakistan.
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan have repli-
“Shaheen, especially, is in good
Cricket Stadium here to prepare for rhythm,” Gul said. “Aamer and Khur-
their upcoming three-match Test tour in Training Camp, Says Umar Gul ram are also doing well because they
Down Under, the team’s fast-bowling have been consistently playing four-
coach Umar Gul said on Thursday. day and one-day games lately.”
According to Gul, who was re-ap- Gul, who is a part of a fresh Pakistan
pointed in the position following the coaching staff, which includes team
resignation of his predecessor Morne director Mohammad Hafeez and spin
Morkel, the practice pitches at the ven- bowling coach Saeed Ajmal, believed
ue of Pakistan’s ongoing training camp the team had decent bowling resources
have been prepared to support bounce to compete in Australia.
and seam, common traits of Australian “I think we have a very good bowl-
surfaces. ing attack,” he said. “It includes the
“Playing in Australia is always guys who have performed well in the
tough,” Gul told reporters on the open- domestic circuit as well as the seasoned
ing day of the six-day training camp. likes of Shaheen and others.”
“Getting ready for it requires a lot of Pakistan will be led by new Test cap-
hard work.” tain Shan Masood in the series follow-
Gul said the Pakistan bowlers were ing Babar Azam’s resignation as the all-
being trained to bowl long spells in format captain after the team’s dismal
Australia through separate sessions show in the recently-concluded World
with the new and the old ball.“After Pakistan’s bowling coach Umar Gul RAWALPINDI: Pakistan cricketers attend a training session at the Cup. They will open the campaign with
bowling with the new ball, the bowl- speaks during a media talk on Thurs- Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.—Tanveer Shahzad/White Star a four-day practice game against the
ers are asked to take part in the fielding day.—White Star Australian Prime Minister’s XI in Can-
drills before they return to bowl with tour. The only two mainstays in the bowlers are either uncapped (Aamer berra from Dec. 6. The three Tests will
the new ball,” said the 2009 T20 World Pakistan have included seven pace- attack are Shaheen Shah Afridi and Jamal and Khurram Shehzad) or ap- be held in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney
Cup winner. men in their 18-member squad for the Hasan Ali while the remaining fast pear sporadically (Faheem Ashraf and from Dec. 14, 26 and Jan. 3 respectively.

Azam's video of a light-heart- Babar Azam playfully nicknames ing on refining his batting skills dur-
akistani star cricketer Babar
ing the net practice session.
Ped banter from Thursday's Pakistan squad for Australia Tests:
training session spread smiles on the Saud Shakeel 'Chota Don' Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal,
fans' faces as the former skipper play- Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed,
fully gave his teammate Saud Shakeel Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan
a hilarious nickname. Hilarious Video of Babar Captured During Fielding Drills Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad,
The national cricket team com- Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan
menced their training camp at the In Training Camp For Test Series Against Australia (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman
Pindi Cricket Stadium for the three- Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sar-
match Test series against Australia set was in reference to a comedic char- faraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and
to begin on December 14. acter Chota Don portrayed by Rajpal Shaheen Shah Afridi.
On the first day of the training ses- Yadav in the Indian film Partner, with Australia tour schedule:
sion, various noteworthy moments the word 'Chota' humorously refer- Four-day match: PM’s XI vs Paki-
unfolded at the cricket ground. encing the character's diminutive stat- stan – December 6-9: Manuka Oval,
The hilarious video of Babar dur- ure. Canberra
ing the fielding drills was captured in Alongside the light-hearted banter, 1st Test – Australia vs Pakistan –
the same practice session. Babar Azam participated in warm- December 14-18: Perth Stadium
In the video, the 29-year-old crick- up activities, engaging in a brisk jog 2nd Test – Australia vs Pakistan –
eter added a touch of humour to the around the ground with Shaheen Af- December 26-30: Melbourne Cricket
proceedings by calling Shakeel "Chota ridi and Mohammad Rizwan. Ground (MCG)
Don" (Little Don) after the southpaw The star batter, who stepped down 3rd Test – Australia vs Paki-
adeptly secured a catch. from captaincy recently, demonstrat- stan – January 3-7: Sydney Cricket
The nicknaming of the southpaw ed a dedicated approach, concentrat- Ground (SCG)

All Possible Measures Will Be Taken India Searches for Answers After

To Bring Out Talent of Streets Another ICC Event Final Defeat

DELHI: India were left grappling for
is important to provide favorable op- answers after the team’s devastating de-
portunities for the promotion of healthy feat to Australia in the final of the ICC
activities among the youth. I hope that World Cup 2023 at home extending
the Karachi Tapball Premier League will their drought in global tournaments.
prove to be important for nurturing new A much-fancied India team led by
talent. He said that the youth in Kara- skipper Rohit Sharma went into Sun-
chi progress only by playing tape ball. day’s final in front of nearly 100,000 fans
He said that all famous cricketers must in Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmed-
have played cricket with tab ball. He said abad undefeated and favourites to
that Premier League will be organized capture the ODI crown. But they were
for women and special children as well. outplayed by Pat Cummins’ Australia, for painful reading for its hundreds of
He said that sports and entertainment going down to a six-wicket defeat and millions of fanatical supporters. Their
are essential for a healthy society, in this leaving players, fans and pundits with a last global title came a decade ago with
regard organizing the Karachi Tap Ball familiar feeling of disappointment. the 2013 Champions Trophy. “You can’t
KARACHI: Sindh Governor Kam- the ceremony, legendary cricketer Javed Premier League is a welcome process “You can’t deny the fact that it’s been deny the fact that it’s been more than
ran Khan Tesori has said that tape Miandad, former Test cricketers Mush- because there is no dearth of talented more than 10 years since they won a 10 years since they won a global title,”
ball cricket is a step to make street aq Muhammad, Sadiq Muhammad, Ha- youth in Pakistan. global title,” Indian sports journalist R. Indian sports journalist R. Kaushik told
boys into star boys and all possible roon Al Rasheed, various Consul Gen- Governor Sindh said that my Kaushik told AFP yesterday. AFP yesterday.
measures will be taken to promote erals of the countries, former captain of all possible support will continue “If you look at the semi-final losses Sunday was also India’s second
it so that the existing talent in the Pakistan team Sarfaraz Ahmed, Zubair for the promotion of cricket in the then there is a pattern, maybe there is loss to the Australians in a final in
streets can be brought to the fore. Naseer of Badr Expo Solutions were province. Javed Miandad, Consul something wrong in the planning,” he five months after they went down in
These views were expressed by Gov- also present. Governor Sindh further General of United Arab Emirates added. “You can interpret that as, ‘Yes, the World Test Championship decid-
ernor Sindh while addressing the unveil- said that table ball cricket is the face of Bakhit Atiq Al Rumithi, Haroon Al they freeze on the big stage’, or you can er in June. India won the ODI World
ing of the trophy of the third edition of Karachi because due to non-availability Rasheed, Sadiq Muhammad, Sarfar- say that, ‘On that day they were not Cup in 1983 and 2011 at home but
the Karachi Tapball Premier League and of grounds, the youth are forced to play az Ahmed and Zaheer Naseer also good enough’. But it’s hard to say they then faltered at the semi-final stage
the drafting ceremony of the players. In on the streets and roads. He said that it addressed the ceremony. freeze mentally.” India’s record makes in 2015 and 2019
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