Pakistan captain Babar Azam with Australian Test captain Pat Cummins, posing with the trophy ahead of the first Test. (file photo)
Injuries, positive COVID-19 cases and bad weather have taken the lead on the eve of the historic first Test between Pakistan and Australia in Rawalpindi.
Both the camps have at least one positive COVID-19 case, with Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf ruled out of the first Test.
Australia’s spin bowling consultant Fawad Ahmed also tested positive on Wednesday and will be in isolation for the next five days.
Pakistan Test Regular – Fast bowler Hassan Ali and all-rounder Faheem Ashrafi – He was ruled out due to injuries suffered during the Pakistan Super League last week along with pacer Naseem Shah and all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed.
Rainfall in Rawalpindi on Thursday has kept both the teams locked in their respective hotels and there is a possibility of more rain for the last three days of the Test match.
Australia played a Test match in Pakistan for the first time since 1998, due to concerns over security from multiple terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
Australia’s Pindi Cricket Stadium, which arrived in Pakistan on Sunday, has had just two training sessions.
guest captain Pat Cummins He said that he knows who his playing XI will be.
“We have a fair idea of what we want to do, but without knowing fully what the wicket is, we don’t want to take a call too early,” Cummins said during a virtual media conference on Thursday. Looks like it will be a super quick wicket… maybe two spinners or three quicks.”
Cummins, who led Australia to a 4-0 win in the home Ashes series against England, did not specify whether leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson would make his debut or partner with Ashton Agar if Australia opted to go with two spinners.
“I’d probably prefer to keep it quiet,” he said. “I think they are both great options. Swipe, you know, leg-spinner, it’s just a real luxury. He’s bowling brilliantly. He’s ready to go… (Ashton Agar) for Australia whenever It’s been great to play.”
Cummins did not think that the injuries to Hasan and Ashraf would weaken Pakistan.
“(In) international cricket, you have to have a squad of players,” he said. “I’m sure it will be a huge loss… but there’s always another guy who can step in.”
Pakistan captain Babar Azmi The PSL had a nightmare period when they finished last in the six-team Twenty20 competition to Karachi Kings with just one win in 10 league games.
But Babar believes Pakistan will carry on the momentum of their previous Test series in Bangladesh, with Pakistan teaming up with Test specialists Fawad Alam and Azhar Ali as well as spinners Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan at the training camp in Karachi. Well prepared and won 2-0.
“As a captain, I am confident that I will have the best playing XI to give a tough fight to Australia in this historic home series,” Babar said. “Unfortunately, it rained today, but we will see the wickets before finalizing the final squad.”
Babar said that Hasan and Ashraf are missing and this has affected the team’s preparations.
“Faheem has contributed with bat and ball while Hasan has been consistently doing well for us in Test matches,” Babar said. But we have batsmen like Azhar, Fawad and Rizwan and I am sure we will do well against the best team in the world.
Both the cricket boards have agreed to name the trophy after two legendary leg-spinner Richie Benaud of Australia and Abdul Qadir of Pakistan.
(reported by AP)