LONDON: Pakistan team is currently practicing in England ahead of their crucial Test against the host at Lord’s on May 24. The team management has employed its ‘tried and tested method’ in overseas conditions to confront English fast bowlers.
Pakistani batsmen were trained in nets with the help of marble slabs to get ‘used to’ with pitch bounce and variation in swings.
The ball bounces and rears up sharply at the batsmen when it strikes the slab, replicating what the Pakistanis are sure to face from the likes of Stuart Broad or Steven Finn.
The team laid out a marble-covered granite slab in the middle of the nets on Friday, which the Pakistan coaching team aimed at when firing some throw-downs at their batsmen.
The team will play one Test against Ireland, two Tests against England and two T20 against Scotland during the tour. The team will take on Ireland, who will be playing their first ever Test on May 11.
The first Test against England will start on May 24 and the second Test will begin on June 1. Pakistan will also play two T20 internationals against Scotland on May 12 and 13.
The 16-player squad included Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Azhar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Sami Aslam, Haris Sohail, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saad Ali, Asad Shafiq, Usman Salahuddin, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Private news channel reported.
Fast bowler Muhammad Amir departure was delayed by two days due to visa problem.
The team officials included Talat Ali manager, Mickey Arthur chief coach, Azhar Mahmood bowling coach, Stephen Rixon fielding coach, Grant Flower batting coach, Grant Luden training coach, Muhammad Ijaz team analyst, Auon Zaidi media manager, Azhar Arif security manager and Donald Albert.
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