Ex-captain Misbah to lead Pakistan pre-season camp

Pakistan former captain Misbah ul Haq would lead the PCB’s 17-day conditioning camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), as Pakistan prepares for the upcoming grueling Test season.

Some twenty players including fourteen centrally contracted and six additional men cricketers have been invited to attend a pre-season camp, which will commence in Lahore on 19 August. At the camp, the players will undergo fielding drills and net sessions, along with fitness and other cricketing activities.

“Misbah ul Haq, who has been Pakistan’s most successful captain, understands the arduous demands of the format in this day and age. With the advent of the World Test Championship, the PCB wants Pakistan to turn up with their best red ball game when they face Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series at home,” said Zakir Khan, Director PCB International Cricket.

“Ahead of the Sri Lanka series, these players will be a part of the initial rounds of what will be a highly competitive Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. So, this camp will further benefit them in gearing up for an exciting cricketing season,” he added.

The 20 players invited are:

Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Asif Ali, Azhar Ali, Bilal Asif, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Rahat Ali Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah and Zafar Gohar

Meanwhile, players including Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Amir would not participate in the camp.