Pakistan announced squad for Hong Kong super sixes tournament 2017

Pakistan Cricket board has announced the squad for the forthcoming Hong Kong super sixes tournament, the traditional tournament returning after an absence of five years and scheduled to begin from Kowloon cricket club on October 28.

Sohail Tanvir named captain of Pakistan for the tournament, Pakistan’s seven member squad includes: Sohail Tanvir, Sohail Khan, Jahid Khan, Mohammad Sami, Anwar Ali, Hammad Azam & Shibzada Farhan. Fast bowler Bilawal Bhatti and Mohammad Irfan Jr. are named as reserved players for Pakistan squad.

Eight-team to participate in the tournament are Hong Kong, New Zealand, Pakistan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and South Africa. Pakistan, the winner of inaugural 6s tournament in Hong Kong, has won the tournament 5 times, jointly the most with England. South Africa has won the last tournament in 2012 when they defeated Pakistan in the final.

Players retention finalized for the Pakistan Super League 2017

Preparations start for the 3rd edition of the Pakistan Super League as all franchises exchanging players to reinforce their squad and combinations. 

Mohammad Rizwan of Lahore Qalandars will now play for Karachi King and make room for fast bowler Sohail Khan in his previous side Lahore Qalandars. Iftikhar Ahmad of Peshawar Zalmi has joined Islamabad United. All released players will now be eligible for selection by new 6^th PSL team Multan Sultans, who will submit their picks on October 10.

The five teams of PSL have retained these players in their squads for the 3rd edition of the PSL:

It was earlier announced by PCB Chairman Najam Sethi that seven new players including JP Duminy (SA), Chris Lynn (AUS), Mitchell Johnson (AUS), Angelo Mathews (SL), Rashid Khan (AFG) and Evin Lewis (WI) will join the PSL 2017 draft. Also, the former star all-rounder Shahd Afridi had earlier announced to leave Peshawar Zalmi and join Karachi Kings.

Seven new overseas players signed for PSL 2018

Pakistan Cricket board and PSL administration has confirmed the addition of seven new overseas players for the PSL 2017 addition. Najam Sethi PCB chairman announced about the new signings through his twitter account.

New signings include stars player from Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and West indies.

List of new Players:
Mitchell Johnson (Australia)
Chris Lynn (Australia)
JP Duminy  (South Africa)
Imran Tahir (South Africa)
Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka)
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
Evin Lewis (West Indies)

All of these overseas players have immense experience of T20 Cricket. Inclusion of these stars players can make PSL 2018 even bigger than the last two editions. These players have played in almost all popular t20 leagues around the globe like IPL, BPL, BBL, and CPL.

Lewis (WI) & Lynn (AUS) are famous for their furious batting and strong power hitting. Lynn has an impressive average of 36.79 and strike rate of 148. The players’ draft for the 3rd edition of PSL is expected to be held in the mid of October 2017.

Pakistan vs West Indies first T20 match on Friday (Match Preview)

Pakistan to face West Indies in 1^st T20i match as the 3 match series between the two sides will start in Dubai on Friday.

Pakistan starting their home summer with World T20 Champions West Indies travelling to UAE to play 3 T20is, 3 ODIs and 3 test matches. Previously Pakistan has a mixed tour of England where they drew the test series by 2-2, lost the ODI series by 4-1 and won the only T20 match.

Pakistan to face West Indies in 1^st T20i match as the 3 match series between the two sides will start in Dubai on Friday. The 1^st T20 match scheduled to begin at 8:00 pm local time and 9 pm PST. Sarfraz Ahmad will lead the T20 side. The T20 series starting with back to back mathches at the Dubai Cricket Stadium on 23 & 24 September while the last 3^rd T20 will be played on September 27^th in Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan T20 Squad: Sarfraz Ahmad (c), Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Shoaib Malik, M Rizwan, Babar Azam, Imad Wasim, M Nawaz, M Aamir, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan, Amad Butt.

Many youngsters have been given a chance in the squads to prove their skills while middle order batsman Umar Akmal has returned to the squad. PCB in order to build a T20 squad for the future appointed Srfraz Ahmed as a T20 captain and has also tried to build the side with experienced player like Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Aamir, Shoaib Malik and Wahab Riaz.

On the other hand West Indies team is one of the most destructive team in the World T20 Cricket and also the current world champions. In the ICC World T20 ranking they have ranked No.3 and they have come to this tour with impressive 1-0 series win over India.

West Indies T20 Squad: Samuel Badree, Carlos Brathwaite (captain), Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Jason Holder, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton.

Pakistan vs West Indies Overall T20 Stats (2011-2014)

Matches played: 4, Pakistan won: 2, West Indies won: 2

Highest Total: 166-6 (WI) at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur (2014)

Lowest Total: 82-10 (PAK) at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur (2014)

Highest run scorer for Pakistan: Umar Akmal, Runs: 97, Average: 32.33

Highest run scorer for West Indies: DJ Bravo, Runs: 106, Average: 35.33

Highest Wicket taker for Pakistan: Zulfiqar Babar, Wickets: 6, Econ: 7.25

Highest Wicket taker for West Indies: SP Narine, Wickets: 7, Econ: 5.50

Shahid Afridi deserves a farewell match: Cheif selector Inzamam-ul-Haq

The chief selector of Pakistan and former Pakistan captain Inzimam ul haq thinks that Shahid Afridi deserves a farewell match for serving the Pakistan cricket for almost 20 years.

Inzimam ul Haq told the reporters in Dubai that after serving the Pakistan for almost two decades Shahid Afridi deserved a farewell match for his retirement. “I think Shahid deserves to be given a send-off match so that he can announce his retirement properly and retire in an applicable manner,” Inzimam said.

Chief selector Inzimam ul Haq played an important role to convince the PCB to allow the selection committee to include Shahid Afridi as the 16^th player for the T20 series against the Caribbean so that he could play his last match and then declare his retirement form the international T20 Cricket but the plan has now been rejected by the PCB.

Afridi for some time now has taken up a role of a cricket expert for the Pakistan’s national sports channel PTV sports for the series against the Caribbean which is starting from 23^rd September.

Inzimam ul Haq also believe that there are lot of things to be put right in Pakistan domestic cricket and this is not possible in 3 months time. “There is a lot to be done in Pakistan cricket and things can’t change in a few months time. It will take time and patience to put our cricket on the right path but it will happen,” Inzimam said.

Inzimam also said that he was hopeful about the future as there is lots of talent in the domestic cricket which is not uncovered yet. He also acknowledges that lot hard work is required to improve the structure of Pakistan domestic cricket. “This selection committee has just worked for three months and we have identified lot of improvements that need to be made to our cricket system and structure. But all this will take time and commitment for us to move forward and there will be highs and lows in this path,” he added.

Inzimam ul Haq is in Dubai to talk with head coach Mickey Arthur about the formation of the Pakistan ODI and Test squads for the series against the West Indies. Pakistan to play 5 Odis and 3 Tests in series against Caribbean in UAE, which is also including a day and night test match.

The chief selector said that the series against the West Indies would be difficult one for Pakistan since they had a quality team and were also the recent World T20 Champions. “There is no question of taking the West Indies team lightly as they have always posed a challenge for us and I foresee a close series although we have a clear edge in the Test match format and we are the number one team,” Inzimam said.

Azhar Ali retained as a ODI captain for the series against West Indies

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) retained Azhar Ali as a captain for series against West Indies in UAE which is starting from 30 September.

The captaincy of Pakistan’s ODI captain Azhar Ali came under inquiry after the 4-1 series defeat against England, reports were suggesting that Azhar Ali would either quit or would be sacked from ODI captaincy.

Earlier the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket board Shahryar Khan had also said the board would discuss the Azhar Ali’s role as the captain of Pakistan Cricket team once the team will return to home.

But now the PCB has confirmed that there will be no change in captaincy of Pakistan ODI side and Azhar Ali will continue to lead Pakistan ODI side in series against Caribbean in UAE later this month. Azhar Ali scored 208 runs in 5 matches vs England with average of 41.60 and strike rate of 77.61.

On the other hand unfit opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez has been dropped from the 22-member preliminary list made by the selection committee led by former Pakistan captain Inzimam ul Haq. Young opener Sami Aslam and the fast bowler Umar Gul also failed to maintain their place in the preliminary squad. Left arm fast bowler Ruman Raees and middle order batsman Umar Akmal have been included in the preliminary list.

Unfit fast bowler Mohammd Irfan has been named in the 22-member preliminary squad. Pakistan to play 3 tests, 5 Odis and 3 T20is against West Indies in UAE.

West Indies announced T20 and ODI squad vs Pakistan

West Indies announced squads for T20 and ODI series vs Pakistan. 

West Indies announced squads for T20 and ODI series vs Pakistan. Kraigg Brathwaite has been included in ODI squad, Brathwaite who has played 31 test matches for West Indies since his debut in year 2011 but never played in ODI and T20 for West Indies. Rovman Powell and Nicholas Pooran two uncapped player included in the T20 squad.

Opening batsman Chris Gayle not included in the squad, he made himself unavailable for the selection. The middle order batsman Lendl Simmons has missed out due to medical issues. Uncapped Batsman Evin Lewis and under 19 fast bowler Alzarri Joseph also included in ODI squad.

West Indies ODI squad vs Pakistan: Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder (capt), Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels.

West Indies T20I squad vs Pakistan:  Samuel Badree, Carlos Brathwaite (capt), Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Jason Holder, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton.

West Indies to play 3 tests, 5 ODIs and 3 T20is matches vs Pakistan in UAE, The first t20 match of the tour will be played on 23 September 2016 in Dubai..

ICC ODI Rankings: Pakistan sink to lowest ever ODI rating points

Australia won the 5 match series against Sri Lanka by 4-1 and maintains top spot in ODI ranking. Australia the No.1 team in the world have taken their points to 124 and have 11 points advantage over No.2 ranked New Zealand.

On the other hand Sri Lanka just lost 1 point and managed to hold to No.6 spot. England have gained 1 point after winning the series against Pakistan by 4-1 and just 3 points behind the No.2 ranked India and No.3 South Africa. Both India and South Africa have 110 points each. After the series lost against England, Pakistan lost the 1 point and register their lowest ever points tally since the introduction of current ICC rankings system in 2003. Pakistan now ranked at No.8 with 86 points. West indies placed at No.7 with 94 points. 

West Indies ready to take on Pakistan in UAE

West Indies team which have won their recent T20is series vs India in USA by 1-0, their T20 Captain Carlos Brathwaite said that his team is ready take its winning thrust into the upcoming series vs Pakistan in UAE.

West Indies team scheduled to play 3 T20is matches in upcoming series against Pakistan, the 3 T20is matches will be played on September 23 & 24 in Dubai and 3^rd T20is match will be played on 27 September in Abu Dhabi.

“We are looking forward to it and we just came from Asia winning the World Cup, the Conditions in UAE mostly similar to India” said Braithwaite, who was recently appointed to replace Darren Sammy, who has led West Indies to two T20 World Cup titles.

 “We are confident when we go in UAE we will continue to put a good show and T20 format is the format in which we gave West Indian fans something to cheer. So we look to continue to put smiles on their faces"

The UAE tour also include 3 Tests and 5 match ODI series, the first test of the series is starting from October 13 in Dubai, and Sharjah will host the remaining 2 test matches from October 21 and October 3o respectively.

“Whenever we as a team step into the ground for West Indies the one thing we look forward to doing is only winning, the combination of the team is good and whoever is there would represent 110 percent” said the West Indies skipper.

Uncapped Amad Butt included in Pakistan's 13-man T20 squad vs England

Pakistan announced squad for the T20i match against England on September 7 at Manchester. Uncapped Amad Butt included in 13-man squad. Amad Butt was the part of Pakistan under 19 team in 2014 World Cup squad in UAE.  He was also the part of Pakistan A recent tour of England.

Khalid Latif and fast bowler Sohail Tanvir also included in the Squad. Yasir Shah, Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali,Umar Gul and Hassan Ali who currently playing ODIs in England not included in T20s squad.

Pakistan T20i Squad: Sarfraz Ahmad (c), Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Shoaib Malik, M Rizwan, Babar Azam, Imad Wasim, M Nawaz, M Aamir, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan, Amad Butt.