LAHORE, Sept 11: Pakistan ‘A’ is likely to field two spinners and three fast bowlers in the first of the two four-day matches against Australia ‘A’, starting at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad from Wednesday.
Off-spinner Atif Maqbool and leg-spinner Mansoor Amjad are likely to find spots in the team along with Mohammad Irshad, Abdul Rauf and Najaf Shah who are also being included to strengthen the pace attack.
Fine performances by Faisal Iqbal (captain), Yasir Hameed, Taufiq Umar, Khalid Latif and Naved Latif in the three-match series have made it difficult for the selectors to consider middle-order batsman Hasan Raza or Adnan Raza in the playing eleven.
The visitors, too, are likely to make some changes in their side. As expected, they will be including Test leg-spinner Stuart MacGill for the first time in the series. MacGill’s late joining of the team prevented him from playing in the one-dayers which Australians lost 3-0.
According to reports, a pitch favouring the batsmen has been prepared for the match.
The teams unfortunately were not able to hold any practice session since their arrival in Faisalabad on Monday due to heavy rains. But as the match pitch had been protected well, the match is expected to start on schedule (10.00am) provided there is no further rain.
Teams (from):
PAKISTAN ‘A’
Squad: Faisal Iqbal (captain), Taufiq Umar, Hasan Raza, Khalid Latif, Yasir Hameed, Naved Latif, Adnan Raza, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Mansoor Amjad, Atif Maqbool, Mohammad Khalil, Abdur Rauf, Mohammad Irshad, Najaf Shah and Rizwan Ahmad.
AUSTRALIA ‘A’
Adam Voges (captain), Phil Jaques, David Hussey, Cameron White, Luke Ronchi (wicket-keeper), James Hopes, Ashle Noffke, Cullen Bailey, Jason Gillespie, Stuart MacGill, Dan Cullen, Doug Bollinger, Luke Butterworth and Chris Rogers.
