Pakistan Under-19 tour of Sri Lanka rescheduled

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today announced a revised schedule of Pakistan Under- 19 cricket team’s tour to Sri Lanka, which will now comprise of five 50-over matches in Hambantota from May 26 to June 5.

The tour was originally planned from May 6-20, comprising two four-day matches and three 50-over matches. However, the series was postponed on April 27 by Sri Lanka Cricket following April 21 terror events in Colombo.

PCB Director International Cricket, Zakir Khan, said: “I am pleased to confirm the Pakistan U19 cricket team’s tour to Sri Lanka is now back on track following April 21 tragic events. Pakistan have themselves been a victim of terrorism. In the past decade, we have suffered massively, both financially and in terms of growing and developing cricket in our country, following international teams’ refusals to visit Pakistan.”

He added: “When the offer for a revised schedule came on the table, the PCB management team unanimously agreed they will not allow any cricket playing country to go through the same difficulties and challenges as Pakistan. In such difficult times, the cricket family needs to stand together and support their member. The decision to visit Sri Lanka is not only to show solidarity with them but to also practice what we preach.”

The Pakistan squad has already been announced and the players have now been invited to attend a training camp at the National Cricket Academy from May 19.

Immediately after the Sri Lanka tour, Pakistan team will travel to South Africa where they will play seven 50-over matches from June 19 to July 7.

The U19 tours are being organise to help the side be best prepared for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020, which will be staged in South Africa from January 17 to February 9, 2020.

Thursday, May 23 – Departure for Colombo

Sunday, May 26 – 1st 50-over match v Sri Lanka U19, Hambantota

Tuesday, May 28 – 2nd 50-over match v Sri Lanka U19, Hambantota

Friday, May 31 – 3rd 50-over match v Sri Lanka U19, Hambantota

Sunday, June 2 – 4th 50-over match v Sri Lanka U19, Hambantota

Wednesday, June 5 – 5th 50-over match v Sri Lanka U19, Hambantota

Thursday, June 6 – Departure for Karachi

Squad (in alphabetical order): Rohail Nazir (captain, wicketekeeper) (Islamabad); Mohammad Taha (vice-captain) (Karachi); Abbas Afridi (FATA); Akhtar Shah (Quetta); Basit Ali (Multan); Haider Ali (Rawalpindi); Khayyam Khan (wicketkeeper) (Abbottabad); Mohammad Haris (Peshawar); Mohammad Junaid (Quetta); Mohammad Wasim (FATA); Niaz Khan (Peshawar); Saim Ayub (Karachi); Shiraz Khan (Rawalpindi); Suleman Shafqat (Faisalabad) and Qasim Akram (Lahore).