The Pakistan cricket team is currently in Kakul, Abbottabad where they are participating in a fitness camp under the supervision of the Pakistan Army ahead of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
The team has been in Kakul since March 25 where they have been trained and looked after by the army undergoing training and gym exercises at the Army School of Physical Training (ASPT).
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday posted a video on their social media accounts where wicketkeeper batter Azam Khan is taking part in the fitness test.
Azam, known for his explosive batting style, did different drills, and exercises and also carried a player, Mohammad Haris, on his shoulders from one point to the other.
The one minute and 23 seconds long video sees Azam carrying a brick, throwing a ball and doing other drills. Upon the completion of the test, the wicketkeeper batter lay down on the ground and Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam soon joined him to congratulate.
Watch here
Earlier, sources told Geo News that the Pakistan squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand might not be announced before April 8 since the selectors will hold another meeting on Sunday.
The squad was set to be announced this week, however it has now been delayed.
The selectors have already returned to Lahore after discussing the probables for the series with captain Babar Azam.
As per an earlier report, the players under consideration for the five-match series are Babar, Saim Ayub, Muhammad Rizwan, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Imad Waseem, Muhammad Amir, Zaman Khan, Usman Khan, Wasim Jr, Irfan Niazi and Abbas Afridi. Whereas, Fakhar Zaman’s hand injury is being reviewed.
Meanwhile, there are also reports that the leading pacer Shaheen may miss a part of the New Zealand series in line with the policy of the cricket board to lessen the burden on the team’s key fast bowlers.
There are chances that leading fast bowlers including Shaheen will be rested for the first part of the series or the complete series against the visitors.
The two teams will play three T20Is at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on 18, 20 and 21 April. Following that, both sides will move to Lahore, where they will play the remaining two T20Is of the series on 25 and 27 April, respectively.
- Azam Khan