ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – An upbeat Pakistan A were set to arrive here today, to begin a near month-long tour of the Caribbean.
The 15-man side left Karachi on Monday confident of success on the campaign that will see them play two four-day “Tests”, three one-day matches and two Twenty20 games.
“We’re aiming for wins and we’ve worked hard in our short training camp,” captain Faisal Iqbal said ahead of the team’s departure. “We have a balanced side that has the potential to beat any side at this level.”
There have been two changes to the squad with Yasir Arafat replacing the injured Hammad Azam and Usman Arshad stepping in for Naveed Yasin who was denied a travel visa.
The squad is a young one but is being led by Iqbal who has already played 26 Tests and 18 One-Day Internationals, and he said the tour represented a wonderful opportunity for players to prove themselves.
“It will be great playing in the Caribbean and the tour will give a good deal of experience to all players,” he noted.
“I will try my best to give a good batting performance as it can bring me back in the national team. But this tour is not only an opportunity for me alone. It will also be a huge chance for all players to prove their worth for the national team.”
Pakistan A will open their campaign with T20s on Friday and Saturday at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, before playing three one-dayers in Grenada starting next Tuesday, and continuing November 11 and 14.
The tourists will then face Windies A in the first “Test” starting November 18 at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex in St Vincent, before facing the hosts in the second game starting six days later
SQUAD – Faisal Iqbal (captain), Khurram Manzoor, Umair Khan, Abid Ali, Amer Sajjad, Usman Arshad, Yasir Arafat, Yasir Shah, Sarfraz Ahmad (wicketkeeper), Zulfiqar Babar, Junaid Khan, Anwar Ali, Tabish Khan, M. Rameez, Shan Masood .
