PCB announces schedule of 5-match ODI series against Australia to be played in the UAE

[MenInG]

PCB announces schedule of Australia ODIs

Lahore, 10 February 2019:

The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced the schedule of five-match ODI series between Pakistan and Australia, which will be played in the United Arab Emirates with the series opener in Sharjah on 22 March and the last match in Dubai on 31 March.

Pakistan is ranked fifth on the ICC ODI team rankings, while Australia is sixth – just two points behind.

The series is part of both sides’ ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 preparations, where Australia will defend the title. Both the sides will square off against each other in the event proper in Taunton on 12 June.

“Australia are the world champions and this series will provide the Pakistan cricket team an opportunity to assess their Word Cup preparations,” PCB Director Cricket - International, Zakir Khan, said.

“The PCB was optimistic that it will be able to convince Cricket Australia to send its side for some matches after successfully staging high-profile bilateral international series and the HBL Pakistan Super League matches in the past 18 months. But, we are disappointed for the enthusiastic and passionate cricket fans in Pakistan who will now have to wait for some more time before they can see the Australia cricket team live in action for the first time since 1998.

“However, the CA has confirmed that they will send their security expert to oversee the execution of security plans for the HBL PSL 2019 matches and bilateral series against other international sides in Pakistan, and will also speak with the ICC-recommended PCB security consultant. In the meantime, the CA have confirmed they will maintain regular contact with the ICC,” Zakir Khan added.

Lahore hosted the ICC World XI, also comprising Australia Test captain Tim Paine and fast bowler Ben Cutting, in September 2017 (refereed by Sir Richie Richardson of the ICC panel). A month later, Sri Lanka played a T20I at the same venue. In April 2018, Karachi was the venue for three-T20I series between the Windies and Pakistan (refereed by David Boon of the ICC panel). Last month, the Windies women’s team played three T20Is against Pakistan women’s team in Karachi.

The inaugural edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League in 2016 was played in the United Arab Emirates, but the 2017 final was held in Lahore. Lahore and Karachi shared three matches between them in 2018, while eight matches are scheduled in the upcoming event which commences 14 February.

Itinerary:

22 March – 1st ODI, Sharjah (d/n)
24 March – 2nd ODI, Sharjah (d/n)
27 March – 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi (d/n)
29 March – 4th ODI, Dubai (d/n)
31 March – 5th ODI, Dubai (d/n)

[IAJ]

5 ODIS over 9 days only. Crazy stuff.

[mak36]

So series is scheduled before the end of the bans for Smith and Warner.
@Ahson8 PCB finally learning to negotiate (although would have been a good test for PCT).

[Khan12]

Hopefully Haris will be back and should try couple of new players from PSL too. Hoping Saud is one of them.

[MenInG]

Steve Smith and David Warner will be eligible for national selection again on March 29 following the end of their 12-month bans, so they could if fit play against Pakistan in the last 2 matches of the 5-match ODI series #PakvAus

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 10, 2019

[Arham_PakFan]

So the series starts just 5 days after the PSL final.

Hope our players don't get burned out before the World Cup.

[Shafi]

We will not gain nothing playing in UAE.

[Hasan123]

So the series starts just 5 days after the PSL final.

Hope our players don't get burned out before the World Cup.

After this series we will have 5/6 weeks off before the WC. The players at the IPL are more likely to get burned out. A lot of Australian players have pulled out of this year's IPL so don't expect them to be affected by fatigue.

[Madplayer]

We will not gain nothing playing in UAE.

Means we will gain something?

[QuickCrick]

Can’t see any benefits of this series as it is in the UAE except testing PSL findings at international level..

Also a side note, most of the series vs England will probably be rained off so this will most likely be our final prep before the WC.

[Hasan123]

Hopefully we can win this series and try out some new players. It would be nice if the pitches could have some bounce and carry in them so we can prepare for the WC .

[Green Patriot]

What will happen to the players.
They have been playing non stop cricket and how will they get any sort of rest is beyond me.
Especially Babar,he is possibly the only player who has been playing every match of every format non stop for the past year.Even sarfaraz has had rest now.

[QuickCrick]

What will happen to the players.
They have been playing non stop cricket and how will they get any sort of rest is beyond me.
Especially Babar,he is possibly the only player who has been playing every match of every format non stop for the past year.Even sarfaraz has had rest now.

I wouldn’t worry about burn out, 20 games spread across 90 days isn’t a big ask..

[Abdullah719]

After this series we will have 5/6 weeks off before the WC. The players at the IPL are more likely to get burned out. A lot of Australian players have pulled out of this year's IPL so don't expect them to be affected by fatigue.

Series against Australia finishes on 31st March.

Pakistan will have around 3 weeks off after that, but that depends on when they opt to leave for England. They might want to go early.

From 27th April to 26th May, they play 3 tour matches, 5 ODIs and a T20I against England and two warm-up games.

First World Cup game is on 31st May.

[Rana]

What will happen to the players.
They have been playing non stop cricket and how will they get any sort of rest is beyond me.
Especially Babar,he is possibly the only player who has been playing every match of every format non stop for the past year.Even sarfaraz has had rest now.

India play nearly every week also

[Markhor]

What will happen to the players.
They have been playing non stop cricket and how will they get any sort of rest is beyond me.
Especially Babar,he is possibly the only player who has been playing every match of every format non stop for the past year.Even sarfaraz has had rest now.

I'm not worried about the batsmen who need to maximise their time in the middle before the World Cup. However the seamers definitely need to be rotated.

[moghul]

We will not gain nothing playing in UAE.

Who are "we" ?

[Green Patriot]

I wouldn’t worry about burn out, 20 games spread across 90 days isn’t a big ask..

I am not talking about just the 90 days.since Asia cup there has been nonstop cricket.
Asia cup,australia,nz,southafrica,psl then australia again.
Although they will get 2,3 weeks rest before England series so that's good.I just hope nobody gets injured till then.

India play nearly every week also

Indian players are rested and rotated.many players dont play all formats.those who play for eg Kohli,Bumrah etc have been rested this series.Regardless,it is not a comparison with India,they must also worry about their schedule or possible injuries.

I'm not worried about the batsmen who need to maximise their time in the middle before the World Cup. However the seamers definitely need to be rotated.

Yes especially Shaheen as he might be important for us in the worldcup i feel.

[a_tahir]

Who are "we" ?

I'm pakistan and pakistan is i.

[Hasan123]

Series against Australia finishes on 31st March.

Pakistan will have around 3 weeks off after that, but that depends on when they opt to leave for England. They might want to go early.

From 27th April to 26th May, they play 3 tour matches, 5 ODIs and a T20I against England and two warm-up games.

First World Cup game is on 31st May.

Playing those ODIs won't be as strenuous as the IPL due to the travel and the amount of games in the IPL. Would much rather our players play the ODIs vs England than IPL.

[Abdullah719]

Playing those ODIs won't be as strenuous as the IPL due to the travel and the amount of games in the IPL. Would much rather our players play the ODIs vs England than IPL.

I wasn't comparing with IPL, just saying we have quite a packed schedule.

[Ahson8]

So series is scheduled before the end of the bans for Smith and Warner.
@Ahson8 PCB finally learning to negotiate (although would have been a good test for PCT).

Yeah good move.

[hadi123]

Can't wait for this series. Quite rare for Pakistan to be playing in UAE in March, we normally play our 'home' games in October-November period. Hope we can get a good idea of which players are good enough for the World Cup squad.

[moghul]

I'm pakistan and pakistan is i.

So why "we" will not gain anything from this series ?

[aloo paratha]

Should be a pretty good series. We should definitely be winning this series though. If we can't beat Australia in the UAE, we don't have a chance at winning the World Cup.

[MenInG]

Australia will hit us hard....

[SensiblePakFan]

This series is dependent on psl form.

[barah_admi]

PSL final, Aus ODI series, then less than a month later, onto England for another ODI series, leading into the world cup jut days following the end of the series.

Not sure if this is great practice or player burnout waiting to happen?

Will be interesting to see how players are rotated. I think the Aus series should be used to try out a number of squad players and give regulars like Babar, Fakhar, Shadab and co maybe 2 matches each. They should then play full strength sides for the first 3 England ODIs and try out their bench strength in the remaining matches.

[PakLFC]

So our preparations for the WC are 5 one dayers versus the Aussies and then England nearer to the tournament?

[King Khan]

I hope this series is used to help identify which out of all the fringe players are going to the World Cup. All those players we know are going to go, i.e. Babar, Safaraz, Hafeez, Malik, Amir. These should all be rested and the remaining ones incl. new uncapped players who may eventually replace Hafeez and Malik should be selected.

[Prince of Pakistan]

I hope this series is used to help identify which out of all the fringe players are going to the World Cup. All those players we know are going to go, i.e. Babar, Safaraz, Hafeez, Malik, Amir. These should all be rested and the remaining ones incl. new uncapped players who may eventually replace Hafeez and Malik should be selected.

The PCB can't have Pak losing 5-0 just before the World Cup. If there is one board that's scared of losing it's the PCB.

[Prince of Pakistan]

So our preparations for the WC are 5 one dayers versus the Aussies and then England nearer to the tournament?

Not good for the confidence of the players, but will show them their true worth against good teams.

[Junaids]

Madness. Irrelevant conditions before the World Cup.

Should have gone back to South Africa.

[giri26]

The returns of Steve Smith and David Warner to the Australian cricket team could come within hours of their bans expiring after the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the dates for the upcoming ODI series between the two countries.

Smith and Warner will be eligible for national selection again on March 29 following the end of their 12-month bans for their roles in the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal.

That same day, Australia will meet Pakistan in Dubai in the fourth ODI of a five-match series that will be serve as pivotal preparations for this year's 50-over World Cup.

The schedule may line up for an immediate return but it remains unclear if either of the pair will be fit to take the park at the first opportunity as each recovers from separate elbow surgeries.

Smith is in greater danger of not being fit to return immediately once his ban ends. His road back to full fitness is the more complicated because his injury and surgery were more serious than Warner's, with the former captain still in an elbow brace until the end of February.

Smith's manager, Warren Craig of Turning Point Management, said the former captain's surgery had "gone very well".

"Until the brace comes off we don't know for sure but all current opinion is that he'll then have about three and a half weeks (before being ready to play)," Craig told cricket.com.au in early February.

"The intent is that he will play in the IPL and then the World Cup and then the Ashes," adding that his participation in the ODIs against Pakistan would hinge on results of CA's assessment once the brace was off.

Australia coach Justin Langer, however, is keen for the pair to play as much top-flight cricket as possible before their World Cup campaign begins on June 1.

"(It's about) how much cricket they get to play between now and then, but I'm sure we'll find opportunities," Langer told reporters in early February.

"They'll find opportunities … but I can't see anything else (stopping them).

"We're talking about two great players. We're not talking about two really good players, they're two great players who, on paper, we'd be crazy not to have them in the team (for the World Cup)."

Both players had surgery in recent weeks after coincidentally each required an operation on elbow complaints following short stints captaining teams in the Bangladesh Premier League.

Smith is set to come out of the brace and begin an extensive period of rehabilitation in late February.

Warner continued to play on in Bangladesh after his elbow issue arose, with his surgery described as a minor "clean up" of the joint.

"We've got to keep working on how they are with their elbows first," Langer said.

"They're going to need to get some cricket leading into hopefully coming back into the squad. It's all part of the management. We'll have to wait and see what happens there."

The possible return of Smith and Warner for the last two of the Pakistan ODIs adds an extra element of interest and scrutiny to the series that Pakistan had hoped would be played in part on their home soil.

Should both be fit and selected, it would mean Australia will have the two ODIs in Dubai, and a further two World Cup warm-up matches in Hampshire, in the south of England, with their former captain and vice-captain before the World Cup tournament gets underway.

Pakistan Cricket Board Director of International Cricket Zakir Khan said it had hoped CA would consent to playing on Pakistani soil for the first time since 1998.

"The PCB was optimistic that it will be able to convince Cricket Australia to send its side for some matches after successfully staging high-profile bilateral international series and the Pakistan Super League matches in the past 18 months," Zakir said.

"However, CA has confirmed they will send their security expert to oversee the execution of security plans for the PSL and bilateral series against other international sides in Pakistan, and will also speak with the ICC-recommended PCB security consultant.

"In the meantime, the CA have confirmed they will maintain regular contact with the ICC."

Australia play Afghanistan on June 1 in Bristol to begin a World Cup campaign they hope will culminate with an unprecedented sixth title in the July 14 final at Lord's.

A condensed tour of the UAE will see five matches played across three venues in just 10 days, starting in Sharjah on March 22.

The series begins the week after Australia's two-T20 and five-ODI tour of India concludes, and the ODI squad is likely to go direct from India to Dubai.

The Pakistan series has long been on the radar for the Australian team, with the Pakistan Cricket Board investigating options to play matches on Pakistan soil, as well as playing more of the series after the expiration of the key duo's bans.

The confirmation of dates for the Pakistan series will also give Australia's ODI players with IPL contracts some certainty.

Players selected in the squad to meet Pakistan will not be released for the IPL by CA until after that series.

The 2019 season of the IPL – its 12th edition – also begins on March 29, and Australian players selected for the Pakistan ODIs will not be available until April 2 at the earliest.

All nations must finalise their 15-man World Cup squads by April 23.

The Australian World Cup squad will assemble at Brisbane's Bupa NCC in early May for a training camp, with players involved to exit the IPL early to attend.

That camp will include a series of practice matches against New Zealand players – although the Kiwis will not recall their stars from the IPL – before heading to the UK for two warm-up matches ahead of the tournament.

Qantas ODI Tour of the UAE

First ODI: March 22, Sharjah

Second ODI: March 24, Sharjah

Third ODI: March 27, Abu Dhabi

Fourth ODI: March 29, Dubai

Fifth ODI: March 31, Dubai

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/paks...cup/2019-02-10

[Shafi]

Who are "we" ?

Pakistani players

[Nikhil_cric]

Madness. Irrelevant conditions before the World Cup.

Should have gone back to South Africa.

They are playing 5 ODIS in England. What more preparation do they need?

[Minnowbasher]

Imo play a c string team for most of the games. I'd rather lose 5-0 than lose a couple of our players to injury prior to the works cup

[giri26]

Australia’s World Cup preparations have hit yet another hurdle with Josh Hazlewood confirming he is still a long way off returning to the middle.
Hazlewood has been ruled out of this month’s limited-overs tour of India and will also miss the subsequent series against Pakistan in the UAE after suffering a stress fracture in his back during the fourth Test against India.

The 28-year-old will have a follow-up scan on Friday and hopes to have ample preparation for Australia’s first World Cup group game against Afghanistan on June 1. The right-arm quick averages 25.15 with the ball in ODI cricket and only concedes 4.73 runs per over on average.

“Everything feels fine, training is coming along nicely, progressing every week. I think we’ll just work back from the World Cup actually, and make sure everything is right for that. I think we’ll know a lot more after the scans,” Hazlewood said on Thursday.

The quick is confident Australia’s warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup will be enough to prepare him for the showpiece event.

“We have three (warm-up) games in Brisbane in May against New Zealand, and maybe three when we get over to England. That’s six one-day games and quite enough to be ready I think.”

The Australians will also be without Mitchell Starc for the India series with the left-arm fast nursing a pectoral injury. Starc is hoping to recover in time for the limited overs series against Pakistan.


Coach Justin Langer is also sweating on the fitness of Steve Smith and David Warner for that series, with both men on the mend from elbow surgery.

Both Smith and Warner will be eligible for national selection from March 29, in time for Australia’s final two ODIs before the World Cup.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket...8cd41f2ea58525