Pakistan are confident that their new-look team will click in the limited-overs series against West Indies which will get underway with a one-off Twenty20 International in St Lucia on April 21.
Following their World Cup semifinal exit, Pakistan have made changes in their squad which now includes several uncapped players.
“It is necessary for any team to keep trying youngsters,” Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan team manager, told ‘The News’ on Saturday.
“It’s an ongoing process which is like giving fuel injections to the team,” added Intikhab, a former Pakistan captain. “It’s a golden opportunity for the youngsters to prove their worth.”
Pakistan have little experience in their pace attack with three of their most seasoned pacers — Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul and Abdul Razzaq — no more in the squad. Akhtar has retired from international cricket, Razzaq was axed due to his below-par showing in the World Cup while Gul has been given a rest.
But Intikhab is confident that youngsters like Wahab Riaz, Juniad Khan and rookie Sadaf Hussain will give their best in the Caribbean islands.
“We have Wahab Riaz who is getting better and better. Junaid Khan is really good while Sadaf, we have been told, is a decent find,” he said.
Intikhab is confident that after a few weeks of rest, Gul will bounce back with a vengeance in the two-Test series against the West Indies next month.
“Gul needed a rest,” he said. “The last time when we rested him he returned with a bang and I expect him to do that again soon.”
Due to shortage of time, Pakistan have decided against holding a training camp ahead of the tour of West Indies. But Intikhab said that the 16-man squad will assemble in Lahore on April 12 for a two-day get-together ahead of the tour.
“We will have light training during those two days,” he said. “We will have around four to five days before the series gets underway and that will be ample time for the players to adapt to the playing conditions in St Lucia,” he said.
Pakistan will arrive in St Lucia on April 16 and will have a practice game there on the 18th.
Pakistan will play five One-day Internationals and two Tests against West Indies during the tour which will conclude on May 24 in St Kitts.
Following their World Cup semifinal exit, Pakistan have made changes in their squad which now includes several uncapped players.
“It is necessary for any team to keep trying youngsters,” Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan team manager, told ‘The News’ on Saturday.
“It’s an ongoing process which is like giving fuel injections to the team,” added Intikhab, a former Pakistan captain. “It’s a golden opportunity for the youngsters to prove their worth.”
Pakistan have little experience in their pace attack with three of their most seasoned pacers — Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul and Abdul Razzaq — no more in the squad. Akhtar has retired from international cricket, Razzaq was axed due to his below-par showing in the World Cup while Gul has been given a rest.
But Intikhab is confident that youngsters like Wahab Riaz, Juniad Khan and rookie Sadaf Hussain will give their best in the Caribbean islands.
“We have Wahab Riaz who is getting better and better. Junaid Khan is really good while Sadaf, we have been told, is a decent find,” he said.
Intikhab is confident that after a few weeks of rest, Gul will bounce back with a vengeance in the two-Test series against the West Indies next month.
“Gul needed a rest,” he said. “The last time when we rested him he returned with a bang and I expect him to do that again soon.”
Due to shortage of time, Pakistan have decided against holding a training camp ahead of the tour of West Indies. But Intikhab said that the 16-man squad will assemble in Lahore on April 12 for a two-day get-together ahead of the tour.
“We will have light training during those two days,” he said. “We will have around four to five days before the series gets underway and that will be ample time for the players to adapt to the playing conditions in St Lucia,” he said.
Pakistan will arrive in St Lucia on April 16 and will have a practice game there on the 18th.
Pakistan will play five One-day Internationals and two Tests against West Indies during the tour which will conclude on May 24 in St Kitts.
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