LAHORE – Pakistan Cricket team is visiting Wagah Border before leaving for Ireland and England tour, said captain Sarfraz Ahmed while addressing a press conference on the last day of the training camp at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
He said the sole purpose to visit the Pakistan-India border was to get some energy and boost.
“Boys will raise slogans and enjoy some time there; I am sure this exercise would help them to increase the morale level for upcoming crucial Test series against England,” Sarfraz explained.
The skipper also dismissed the rumours that Fawad Alam had not been picked on the bases of his playing techniques or any other managerial issues.
“This is completely false that Fawad was not picked up on the bases of techniques, management issue or any other fault in him”, he clarified.
“Fawad has not played a Test since 2009 but he was called to the camp as one of the probable players who could’ve been selected for the upcoming tour. Just because he was called it does not mean it was a done deal that he would be selected for the team. Since Usman Salahuddin and Saad Ali performed better, hence they were picked,” he explained.
The Pakistani middle order was once again questioned, with the 16 member squad going to England consisting of four opening batsmen and a spinner and a wobbly middle which could turn dangerous for Pakistan against a team such as England. Shahdab Khan being the only spinner in the team could also be a cause for concern.
However, Sarfraz shared that they had called four spinners to the camp, of which Shahdab Khan had been the best.
With the conditions in England being cold, Sarfraz hinted that there was a possibility that they might bench the spinner and instead rely on a non-regular leg-spinner such as Haris Sohail and Asad Shafiq.
The Pakistani captain also added that he was looking forward to their encounter against Ireland who would be playing their first ever Test match.
Pakistan will take on Ireland in a test match on May 11, before playing a two-match test series against England on May 24 and June 1.
