Pakistan squad departs for Africa tour via chartered flight

Pakistan team has left for Africa tour via a chartered flight on Friday morning. 21 players and 13 officials were part of the contingent which boarded the flight from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport.

Upon arrival in Johannesburg, Pakistan team will undergo Covid-19 testing and a three-day quarantine. The squad will be allowed to train during that period.

Pakistan will play three ODIs and four T20Is against South Africa. They will then fly to Bulawayo on April 17 for three T20Is and two Tests against Zimbabwe. The side is scheduled to return on May 12.

Yesterday, uncapped middle-order batsman Saud Shakeel had been withdrawn from Pakistan’s ODI squad against South Africa after suffering a Grade-1 quadriceps tear in his left leg during Wednesday’s 50-over-a-side practice match in Lahore.

ALSO READ: No discord between team management and selection committee: Misbah

The selection committee, in consultation with the team management, has replaced Saud with Asif Ali, who is already part of the T20I squad for the series in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

As Saud is also part of the two-Test squad against Zimbabwe, he will now stay back at the National High Performance Centre to complete his rehabilitation. If he regains fitness in time, then he will travel to Harare on April 12 along with other 10 members of the Test side.