Pakistan U19 squad announced for England tour
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-member Pakistan U19 squad for the upcoming tour of England.
Right-handed batter Farhan Yousaf has been named captain of the Pakistan U19 team for the tour. Farhan previously led Pakistan to victory in the ACC U19 Asia Cup in December last year.
One Youth Test and four ODIs planned
Pakistan U19 will begin the England tour with a Youth Test at the Arundel Castle Cricket Ground. The Test will be followed by four Youth ODIs between Pakistan and England.
The tour will allow the young players to gain experience of playing in English conditions. It will also allow the coaching staff to assess the players ahead of their future international assignments.
Pacers and spinners included in squad
The squad includes four fast bowlers: Mohammad Sayyam, Abdul Subhan, Rizwanullah and Umar Zaib.
Left-arm wrist-spinner Mohammad Huzaifa and left-arm spinner Niqab Shafiq have been included as the two specialist spinners.
The bowling group gives Pakistan a combination of pace and spin options for different playing conditions. The young bowlers are expected to play an important role during the tour.
All-rounders add balance to team
Aliyan Salman, Ahmad Hussain, Jahangir Bilal and Hayam Khan have been selected as all-rounders.
Their ability to contribute with both bat and ball could give the team greater flexibility during matches. The combination also gives the captain more options when selecting and managing the playing XI.
Two wicketkeepers named
Hamza Zahoor and Abdul Qadir are the two wicketkeepers included in the 15-member squad. Farhan Yousaf, Usman Khan and Hasnain Abbas Dar are the designated batters.
The selection provides Pakistan with specialist options across the batting and wicketkeeping departments. Several players in the squad have also represented Pakistan at the U19 level previously.
Several players in line for U19 debut
Farhan Yousaf, Abdul Subhan, Ahmad Hussain, Hamza Zahoor, Mohammad Sayyam, Mohammad Huzaifa, Niqab Shafiq, Umar Zaib and Usman Khan have previously represented Pakistan U19.
Also Read: Rain delays second day of Pakistan-England first Test
The remaining members of the squad are in line to make their U19 debuts. The England tour could therefore provide an important opportunity for these young players to establish themselves at the international level.
Pakistan completes pre-tour training camp
The Pakistan U19 team has completed a pre-tour training camp at the National Cricket Academy. The camp concluded with a two-day red-ball intra-squad match on Tuesday.
The practice match allowed the players to prepare for the longer format before travelling to England. The team is scheduled to leave Lahore for England on Sunday, August 30.
Coaching staff announced
Shahid Anwar will serve as the head coach of the Pakistan U19 team during the tour. He will be assisted by Rao Iftikhar Anjum as the fast bowling coach and Zohaib Khan as the spin bowling coach.
Humayun Farhat will work with the team as the fielding coach. The coaching staff will focus on preparing the young squad for the demands of playing in English conditions.
Full Pakistan U19 squad
Farhan Yousaf (captain), Abdul Qadir, Abdul Subhan, Ahmad Hussain, Aliyan Salman, Hamza Zahoor, Hasnain Abbas Dar, Hayam Khan, Jahangir Bilal, Mohammad Sayyam, Mohammad Huzaifa, Niqab Shafiq, Rizwanullah, Umar Zaib and Usman Khan.
Non-travelling reserves
The PCB has also named five players as non-travelling reserves. They are Abbas Afridi, Ali Hasnain Badshah, Farhanullah, Hassan Khan and Ibtisam Azhar. The reserve players will remain available if changes to the touring squad are required.
