Dubai; Pakistan Test team have arrived and will undergo a morning training session on Saturday from 10am, before their first Test match of the two Test series against Australia on Sunday.
Australia have already been training during early morning hours but will also train today after noon from 2pm at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Academy.
The Pakistan squad led by Sarfraz Ahmad will aim to overcome the impact of their team’s poor show in the Asia Cup and start this Test series as a fresh one. Soon after the Asia Cup debacle, Sarfraz had said: “There is no need to press the panic button. We will have to sit down and see what went wrong and try to fix things.”
Pakistan selectors have made sure the team is stronger to meet the challenges from the Australian team. They have even dropped their star bowler Mohammad Amir, who is battling for form, and recalled their experienced all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez. The focus will be on young Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam to deliver.
The Dubai International stadium will be hosting their 12th Test match since they hosted their first Test between Pakistan and South Africa in November 2010.
The last time Australia and Pakistan met here in a Test series was in October 2014.
Pakistan beat Australia by 221 runs through centuries in both innings by Younis Khan and also centuries from skipper Sarfraz and Ahmad Shahzad.
For Australia, David Warner, who is now undergoing a ban, hit 133 runs.
Pakistan Test series is being supported by Brighto Paints as title sponsors and Jubilee Insurance as presenting sponsor.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the sponsors through a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday and released the logo.
Commenting on the series, Zakir Khan, director, International Cricket PCB said: “Pakistan start off their new season with a competitive Australian side playing a series of two Test matches and three T-20Is in the UAE, and it would be a great cricketing battle between the two teams on the field. He said, Pakistan was starved of hosting international cricket at home, and it was pleasing to see sponsors coming forward to support Pakistan’s cricket. In recent times, international teams have visited Pakistan and we are e looking forward to host more international matches at home in the near future.”
