Pakistan A team arrive for 12-day tour of UAE

Khurram Khan will lead the UAE against Pakistan 'A' in the opening two-day match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium tomorrow.

The Pakistan A arrived in Dubai, from Lahore, last evening for a 12-day tour. The Pakistan team's tour is part of the Asian Cricket Council's development programme whereby all full member countries of the ACC, especially those from the Test playing nations, have been asked to tour associate member countries.

The other members of the UAE team are Ahmed Nadeem, Asim Saeed, Arshad Ali, Atif Iftekhar, Aosaf Ali, Khaif Ghaury, Mohammed Nadeem, Mohammed Bilal, Mohammed Tauqir, Nasir Siddiqui, Naeemuddin, Saqib Ali and Syed Maqsood.

Meanwhile, Mushtaq Moha-mmed, former Pakistan Test star, has been named the match referee.
"It's a balanced side and we hope to put up a good performance," skipper Khurram told Gulf News yesterday.

"We are not used to playing two-day matches and so our first match will be a new experience for our team. We had an eight-day camp under coach Abid Ali. Though the camp was short we have all worked hard," added Khurram.

The three new faces in the UAE squad are allrounders Syed Maqsood, Saqib Ali and right-arm leg-spinner Mohammed Bilal. "The inclusion of Bilal will strengthen our bowling attack. We needed a good spinner, especially since we are playing two-day matches," said Khurram.

Meanwhile, Pakistan on Monday appointed Shoaib Malik as the captain and also named Junaid bin Tauqir Zia as the vice-captain.

The other members of the squad are Danish Kaneria, Naveed Latif, Imran Farhat, Saeed bin Nasir, Najaf Hussain Shah, Abdul Rauf Khan, Salman Butt, Muhammad Farhan Adill Malik, Umar Gul, Muhammad Shadab Kabir, Muhammed Yasir Arafat, Rana Naveedul Hassan, Atiquzzaman.

Aaqib Javed (coach) and Zaheer Abbas (batting consultant) will accompany the team. Sultan Rana is manager and Dr Sohail Saleem is the team's physio.

The two-day match, commencing tomorrow, will be followed by the second two-day match from January 19 at the Dubai Cricket Council ground. The three one-day matches will be held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

The two-day matches will commence from 9.30am, except on Friday when it starts at 10am. The one-day matches will be begin at 9am and the day-night match at 1.30pm.

Schedule:
Following is the tour schedule:
January 16-17 (Sharjah Cricket Stadium): First two day match: Umpires: Tariq Butt and Ifthikar Ali.
January 19-20: (DCC ground): Second two day match: Umpires: Farid Malik and Razzak Shah.
January 21: (DCC ground): First One-day match: Umpires: Hassan Jawed and Sher Afzal.
January 23: (Sheikh Zayed cricket stadium): Second One-day match: Umpires: Arshad Ansari and Nasir Butt.
January 24: (Sharjah Cricket Stadium): Day/Night match: Third One-day match: Umpires: Arshad Ansari and Prem Mishra.