Sharjah. Pakistan youngsters that played in the Twenty20 and one day series achieved their goal by not only winning the T20 and One Day International series against West Indies but also by recording an unprecedented 3-0 clean sweep triumph in both formats of the game. It was a spectacular show of not only talents from the youngsters but exhibition of their fitness and team spirit.
These youngsters showed huge discipline and celebrated their triumph.
During off days of the tour the players used to unwind visiting Pakistan restaurants or sometimes even friends. Among such occasions they exhibited their skills as singers and ability to mimic. The PCB management ensured that they mixed cricket with fun to ease the pressure.
When Danube team owners invited the players for a dinner, the youngsters mixed freely with the fans and signed autographs to nearly 20 budding youngsters. The most sought after players were Babar Azam and Imad Wasim as they stole the thunder during the series with superb performances.
Now the focus shifts on to the three-Test series. Ranked No. 2 in the world, Pakistan looks all set to dominate over West Indies Test squad too. To select the right players for the longer version of the game, Pakistan selectors are watching the three-day match between Pakistan Cricket Board Patrons XI and West Indies Test team at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium which commenced on Friday from 3.30pm.
As experienced batsman Younis Khan has been ruled out of the first Test starting on October 13 at Dubai International Stadium with doctors advising him 10 days of rest to regain his strength after recovering from a bout of dengue fever, the three-day match has gained significance.
Pakistan Patrons skipper Fawad Alam won the toss and elected to bat. All eyes were on Pakistan’s top order batsman Mohammad Hafeez, who wanted to use this match to prove that he is in form after he was sent home from England in August due to a calf injury. He was also not picked for the ODIs and T20 series due to his poor form. In this match, Hafeez fell for a duck after a stay of seven balls as West Indies’ pacer Miguel Cummins had him caught by Alzarri Joseph.
Ahmad Shehzad joined Shan Masood. The pair batted confidently. Masood went for his shots and hit two sixes. Shehzad kept finding the gaps and the pair set the foundation for a big score. By tea break the pair put on 61 runs in 26.5 overs. Masood was unbeaten on 28 from 82 balls with one boundary and two sixes. Shehzad scored 32 off 85 balls with two fours and a six.
The PCB selectors have included leg-spinner Shahzaib Ahmed Khan and out-of-favour left-arm paceman Junaid Khan in the Patron’s XI to have a look at them for the Test series.
