ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national cricket team has begun its journey to Sri Lanka ahead of a three-match T20 International series that will start from January 7.
Players Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza and Mohammad Wasim Jr departed for Sri Lanka on Sunday, media reports said.
The remaining members of the squad are scheduled to travel from Lahore to Colombo on Monday. The team will assemble in Colombo before the opening match.
Players who had been participating in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) have already returned to Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s foreign coaching and support staff will travel directly to Sri Lanka.
Local media, citing sources, reported that head coach Mike Hesson and other foreign staff had returned to their respective countries for Christmas and New Year holidays following the recently concluded tri-nation series, and will now rejoin the team in Sri Lanka.
All-rounder Shadab Khan, who is currently featuring in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), will fly to Sri Lanka from Australia.
Shadab recently played a BBL match in Sydney on Thursday and is expected to rejoin Sydney Thunder after Pakistan’s T20I series concludes.
Series schedule and venue
Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series, with matches scheduled for January 7, 9 and 11.
All three games will be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla, according to the schedule.
The series will serve as an important preparation phase for Pakistan ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
Pakistan are scheduled to play all of their World Cup matches in Colombo.
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka T20Is
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper) and Usman Tariq.
