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Dubai: England take on a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) XI in their second three-day warm-up match at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Global Cricket Academy from today. They will face some of Pakistan's most promising spinners during the encounter.
The PCB XI, led by Sarfraz Ahmad and coached by former Pakistan Test star Ejaz Ahmad, announced that they want to exploit England's unfamiliarity on subcontinental wickets. Though England beat the International Cricket Council (ICC) Combined Associate and Affiliate XI by three wickets in their first warm-up match on Monday, some of their top batsmen struggled for runs in both innings.
The PCB XI skipper not only warned England that his bowlers are very talented, but also informed his opponents that they will face a tough time against off-spinner Saeed Ajmal in the coming Test matches. "Ajmal's doosra will be tough for England. He has now discovered a ‘teesra' too in Bangladesh," said Sarfraz.
When asked to say whether Graeme Swann or Ajmal is the better spinner, Sarfraz said: "Ajmal is better because he has more variety. He can bowl the doosra very well and has now discovered the ‘teesra' too." Ejaz chipped in to add: "England should not forget that Saeed Ajmal took five wickets in the last Test against England in Birmingham."
Sarfraz considers the match a great opportunity for the youngsters in the team. "My team is made up of all those who really did well in our domestic cricket tournaments. It is a great opportunity to perform against the world No 1 team. Every player in my team knows that if they can perform well in this match they will be considered for international cricket and so everyone will try and give their best. We have worked very hard for this match," he said.
Free entry
Ejaz believes that his team is not made up of novices. "Some of the boys have played for Pakistan such as Mohammad Talha, Yaseer Shah and Nasser Jamshaid. We have a fine left-arm spinner in Raza Hassan and a good pacer in Mohammad Khalil. So I am sure we can give a tough time for England," said Ejaz, who has also been working hard on the fielding of the team.
Dubai Sports City has announced that entry to the match will be free. Maqbul Dudhia, the Dubai Sports City General Manager Sports Business, said: "With free entry it's a unique opportunity for all cricket fans and families to see some of the world's leading players at close quarters.
"The ICC Global Cricket Academy is also a delightful place to come and watch the game and we invite fans to come with families and have a fun day during the next three days."
Teams
England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Steven Davies, Chris Tremlett, Monty Panesar and Graham Onions.
PCB XI: Sarfraz Ahmad (wicketkeeper/captain), Nasser Jamshaid, Afaq Rahim, Harris Sohail, Mohammad Ayoub Dogar, Fawad Alam, Usman Salahuddin, Raza Hassan, Mohammad Khalil, Mohammad Talha, Ali Imran Pasha and Yasir Shah.
The PCB XI, led by Sarfraz Ahmad and coached by former Pakistan Test star Ejaz Ahmad, announced that they want to exploit England's unfamiliarity on subcontinental wickets. Though England beat the International Cricket Council (ICC) Combined Associate and Affiliate XI by three wickets in their first warm-up match on Monday, some of their top batsmen struggled for runs in both innings.
The PCB XI skipper not only warned England that his bowlers are very talented, but also informed his opponents that they will face a tough time against off-spinner Saeed Ajmal in the coming Test matches. "Ajmal's doosra will be tough for England. He has now discovered a ‘teesra' too in Bangladesh," said Sarfraz.
When asked to say whether Graeme Swann or Ajmal is the better spinner, Sarfraz said: "Ajmal is better because he has more variety. He can bowl the doosra very well and has now discovered the ‘teesra' too." Ejaz chipped in to add: "England should not forget that Saeed Ajmal took five wickets in the last Test against England in Birmingham."
Sarfraz considers the match a great opportunity for the youngsters in the team. "My team is made up of all those who really did well in our domestic cricket tournaments. It is a great opportunity to perform against the world No 1 team. Every player in my team knows that if they can perform well in this match they will be considered for international cricket and so everyone will try and give their best. We have worked very hard for this match," he said.
Free entry
Ejaz believes that his team is not made up of novices. "Some of the boys have played for Pakistan such as Mohammad Talha, Yaseer Shah and Nasser Jamshaid. We have a fine left-arm spinner in Raza Hassan and a good pacer in Mohammad Khalil. So I am sure we can give a tough time for England," said Ejaz, who has also been working hard on the fielding of the team.
Dubai Sports City has announced that entry to the match will be free. Maqbul Dudhia, the Dubai Sports City General Manager Sports Business, said: "With free entry it's a unique opportunity for all cricket fans and families to see some of the world's leading players at close quarters.
"The ICC Global Cricket Academy is also a delightful place to come and watch the game and we invite fans to come with families and have a fun day during the next three days."
Teams
England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Steven Davies, Chris Tremlett, Monty Panesar and Graham Onions.
PCB XI: Sarfraz Ahmad (wicketkeeper/captain), Nasser Jamshaid, Afaq Rahim, Harris Sohail, Mohammad Ayoub Dogar, Fawad Alam, Usman Salahuddin, Raza Hassan, Mohammad Khalil, Mohammad Talha, Ali Imran Pasha and Yasir Shah.
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