National cricket team head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has said that Pakistan’s preparations for the Test series against England are complete and the team will enter the series with confidence.
Speaking to the media after a training session at Kent County Cricket Ground, Sarfaraz said the team’s momentum had improved following a strong performance in the previous match. He added that Pakistan would need to play high-quality cricket to beat England on home soil.
He said Pakistan’s bowling attack can trouble England and described the team’s bowling strength as a major weapon in English conditions. According to Sarfaraz, Pakistan will need to put England under pressure by posting a big first-innings total. The head coach said there was no additional pressure on Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha, expressing confidence that both players would perform well during the series.
Regarding Shan Masood’s fitness, Sarfaraz said the batter had started practising with a soft ball and expressed optimism that he would be available for the first Test. Sarfaraz also said spinners could play an important role in English conditions. However, the final decision on their inclusion would be made after assessing the pitch and weather conditions. He added that Pakistan have two quality spinners available for selection. He said Pakistan are confident ahead of the three-Test series and are fully prepared to give their best performance against England.
Joe Root ends midnight curfew ahead of Test return
On the other hand, Joe Root has scrapped England’s midnight curfew ahead of his return as Test captain for the three-match series against Pakistan, saying such restrictions are ineffective.
Root is set to resume the captaincy after stepping down from the role in 2022. He has taken over following Ben Stokes’ retirement from international cricket at the end of England’s Test series against New Zealand earlier this summer.
Stokes’ departure was partly linked to a breach of team protocols following England’s victory in the first Test at Lord’s. Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were reportedly out after midnight and later went to a nightclub in Chelsea, where Atkinson was involved in an altercation with a Saracens Academy rugby player. Root has now opted for a different approach, removing the midnight curfew as England prepare to face Pakistan in the upcoming Test series.