Web Desk: After a forgettable T20 World Cup campaign Pakistan have quickly shifted their focus to next year’s 50-over showpiece with an eye on testing fresh faces. Their preparations for the tournament will begin with a three-match One-day International series against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium from Wednesday.
The first ODI will feature three debutants Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat as openers and Shamyl Hussain at first drop Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi confirmed on the eve of the match on Tuesday. “We just want to give opportunities to our youngsters as they are also our future” said the skipper who will lead the side in this third series. “We just need to ready our team for the World Cup and this is an opportunity for the youngsters to go and show their skills.”
Sahibzada who proved his selection in the Pakistan T20 side by ending up as the T20 World Cup’s highest run-scorer has now been given a chance to prove himself in the longer format. Over the last decade the right-hander has amassed 2926 List A runs at an impressive average of 41.80. Maaz and Shamyl have risen up the domestic charts over the last couple of years. Maaz was the fifth highest run-getter in the President’s Cup the recent domestic one-day event with 374 runs but his strike rate of 144.40 was the standout feature of his performance. Shamyl was third on the run-scorer list with 452 runs striking at 118.32.
The selection of the top three suggests Pakistan want to start explosively with the bat in the 50-over format. Shaheen hoped the trio will play their natural game. “I hope they will play their own game and show their skills” he noted. “We are excited to see them play for Pakistan not just for one series but for the future as well. I think when the time comes they also know their role in what is coming for the World Cup.”
Pakistan’s bowling line-up is likely to feature pacer Haris Rauf along with Shaheen spinners Abrar Ahmed and Faisal Akram and bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf. Bangladesh will look to improve their performance in the middle overs both with the bat and ball and will try a new combination in the middle order by bringing in Litton Das and Afif Hossain. They will be looking to openers Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar to get off to a quick start before stability follows.
Their bowling attack will be led by captain and spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz along with pacers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain. Pace will however take centre stage for the hosts. “Yes it is definitely the plan to try playing three quicks from now on because the World Cup is in South Africa and that is the type of cricket we will be playing there” Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons said. “There will be occasions when we might play three spinners but it will never go back to one spinner and two pacers. You have to prepare for where you are going and three quicks is what we will focus on most of the time” he added.
Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain) Abdul Samad Abrar Ahmed Faheem Ashraf Faisal Akram Haris Rauf Hussain Talat Maaz Sadaqat Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper) Mohammad Wasim Jr Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper) Saad Masood Sahibzada Farhan Salman Ali Agha Shamyl Hussain
Bangladesh: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain) Afif Hossain Litton Das Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan Mustafizur Rahman Nahid Rana Najmul Hossain Shanto Rishad Hossain Saif Hassan Shoriful Islam Soumya Sarkar Tanvir Islam Tanzid Hasan Taskin Ahmed Tawhid Hridoy
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