On Sunday, Pakistan Cricket team players reached the United Arab Emirates to play the series against Sri Lanka.
The national team comprising 16 players and nine officials landed in Dubai on 24th September via Emirates flight 623, where fans from various cricket-loving countries welcomed the team and took selfies with Pakistani cricketers.
The first Test will start in Dubai from 28th September, Thursday. Whereas the second Test is a day-night affair and will be played in Dubai from 6th of October.
The teams will also play five one-day internationals and three Twenty20s. The last of Twenty20s is scheduled to be played in Lahore on 29th October.
For the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, the Test squad comprising five uncapped players including fast bowler Mir Hamza was announced on Saturday.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah was also selected in the squad and was put to rest for fitness concerns after he nailed the tests. However, Azhar Ali was also selected in the squad who has been struggling with a troubled knee but later cleared to play with the help of injections.
According to Assistant Coach Pakistan Cricket team, the team would take rest for one day and would start the first practice session on Monday morning at Abu Dhabi cricket stadium.
According to Operations Manager Abu Dhabi Cricket Shahnawaz Hakeem, Sheikh Zayed cricket stadium was ready to host Pakistan and Sri Lanka cricket teams.
Shahnawaz also states proudly that the stadium was ready to host five out of the 11 upcoming matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka over the months of September and October. He also termed that tickets for the games are now on sale.
Inzamam-ul-Haq the Chief selector while addressing a press conference announced the names of the 16 players in the squad.
These 16 players include five fast bowlers and two specialist spinners.
Haris Sohail and Usman Salahuddin have played one-day internationals for Pakistan but both the batsmen are yet to make their Test debuts.
Bilal Asif, Spin-bowling all-rounder and left-arm Mohammad Asghar were also in the squad yet to play in Tests.
Sarfraz Ahmed will lead the Test side for the first time being already leading Pakistan in ODIs and T20 Internationals.
Sarfraz Ahmed has earlier anticipated the visiting side as a tough time for Pakistan. He calls the series against Sri Lanka a challenge for Pakistan, in a press conference.
He also attributed Younis Khan and Misbah-ul Haq saying that the team will miss their presence as they left a void.
Both the stalwarts retired following the team´s last series in the West Indies in the month of May.
Thr Squad announced for these matches: Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Mohammad Amir, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Bilal Asif, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain, wicketkeeper), Usman Salahuddin, Hasan Ali, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza and Wahab Riaz.
