KARACHI: Pakistan’s men’s cricket team assembled in Karachi on Sunday ahead of the Asian Games, with a four-day pre-departure training camp set to begin on Monday.
The 15-member squad will train at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre from September 21 to 24. The team will leave for Japan on the night of September 24.
Sahibzada Farhan will lead the Pakistan squad at the Asian Games. Abdul Samad will serve as his deputy.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), most players reached Karachi on Sunday. Five players will join the camp after completing their franchise commitments.
Those players are Usman Khan, Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, Hasan Nawaz and Sufyan Moqim.
Their franchise commitments are scheduled to end on Sunday night in Barbados.
Pakistan schedule training sessions
Pakistan will hold its first training session from 10am to 1pm on September 21.
The team will follow the same schedule on September 22. Both sessions will take place at the High Performance Centre nets and Oval.
The players will then play a T20 practice match at the Oval Ground on September 23.
A centre-wicket scenario match will follow at the same venue on September 24.
The 21-member Pakistan contingent will depart from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport at 11pm on September 24.
Mohammad Wasim Jnr replaces injured Salman Mirza
Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jnr has joined the squad as a replacement for Mohammad Salman Mirza.
Salman will miss the Asian Games after suffering a fracture to his left thumb.
He is currently undergoing rehabilitation and expects to regain full fitness in the first week of October.
The Pakistan squad includes Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Saad Masood.
Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim and wicketkeeper Usman Khan are also part of the squad.
Pakistan will compete in the men’s cricket event at the Asian Games in Japan as part of its 21-member contingent.
