RAWALPINDI: Injuries, positive COVID-19 cases and inclement weather have taken the lead on the eve of historic first test between Pakistan and Australia in Rawalpindi.
There’s at least one positive COVID-19 case in both the camps, with Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf ruled out of the first test. Australia’s spin bowling consultant Fawad Ahmed also tested positive on Wednesday and will remain in isolation for the next five days.
Pakistan test regulars — fast bowler Hasan Ali and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf — were ruled out due to injuries they picked up during last week’s Pakistan Super League with fast bowler Naseem Shah and all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed coming into the side.
The rain in Rawalpindi on Thursday kept both teams in their hotels and more rain is forecast for the last three days of the test match.
It’s the first time Australia has played a test match in Pakistan since 1998 due to concerns over security from several terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
Australia, which arrived in Pakistan on Sunday, has had just two training sessions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
Visiting captain Pat Cummins said he knows who his playing XI will be.
“We’ve got a fair idea what we want to do, but just don’t want to make the call too early without fully knowing what the wicket is,” Cummins said during a virtual media conference on Thursday. “I don’t think it’ll be a super quick wicket … probably two spinners or three quicks.”
Cummins, who led Australia to a 4-0 win in the home Ashes series against England, didn’t reveal whether leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson will make his debut or will partner Ashton Agar if Australia opts to go with two spinners.
“I’d probably prefer to keep it quiet,” he said. “I think that they’re both great options. Swepy, you know, leg spinner, it’s just a real luxury to have. He’s been bowling fantastically. He’s ready to go … (Ashton Agar) has been fantastic whenever he’s played for Australia.”
Cummins didn’t think that Pakistan will be weakened by the injuries to Hasan and Ashraf.
“(In) international cricket, you’ve got to have a squad of players,” he said. “I’m sure that would be a big loss … but there’s always another guy that can step up.”
Pakistan captain Babar Azam had a nightmare period in the PSL when he led Karachi Kings to just one win in 10 league games to finish last in the six-team Twenty20 competition.
But Babar believes Pakistan will carry the momentum of its last test series in Bangladesh which Pakistan won 2-0 with test specialists Fawad Alam and Azhar Ali along with spinners Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan having good preparations in the training camp at Karachi.
“As a captain, I am confident that I will have a 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 wicket before finalizing the final squad.”
Babar said it was a setback to miss Hasan and Ashraf and it has affected the team’s preparations.
“Faheem has contributed with the bat and ball while Hasan has been performing for us consistently in test matches,” Babar said. “But we do have batters like Azhar, Fawad and Rizwan, and I am quite confident that against the best side in the world we will do well.”
Both the cricket boards have agreed to name the trophy the Benaud-Qadir Trophy, after two legendary leg-spinners Richie Benaud of Australia and Pakistan’s Abdul Qadir.
Injuries, COVID-19 cases and rain dampen preparations for 1st Pakistan-Australia test
https://arab.news/bkamk
Injuries, COVID-19 cases and rain dampen preparations for 1st Pakistan-Australia test
- Rain in Rawalpindi on Thursday kept both teams in their hotels
- More rain is forecast for the last three days of the test match
Haaland sends Man City top, Liverpool beat nine-man Spurs
- Haaland turned provider for City’s second just before half-time as Tijjani Reijnders scored his first goal at the Etihad
- Liverpool climb up to fifth, while Spurs are rooted down in 13th
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Erling Haaland fired Manchester City to the top of the Premier League by beating West Ham 3-0, while Liverpool continued their upturn with a 2-1 win at nine-man Tottenham on Saturday.
Arsenal can retake top spot for Christmas when they visit Everton later, but City ramped up the pressure on the Gunners with a seventh consecutive win in all competitions.
The Hammers feared a rout when Haaland smashed home after just five minutes.
Haaland turned provider for City’s second just before half-time as Tijjani Reijnders scored his first goal at the Etihad.
And he netted his 38th goal of the season already for club and country when the ball broke his way 21 minutes from time to move City one point ahead of Arsenal.
Yet, Pep Guardiola was still far from satisfied as he demanded improvements if City are to win a seventh Premier League title under his tenure.
“I want to be honest. I said to the players, ‘Merry Christmas everyone but it will not be enough if we don’t improve’.”
Isak injured
Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to six games after they survived a nervy finale to inflict a miserable Christmas on Spurs boss Thomas Frank.
Xavi Simons’ dangerous lunge on Dutch international team-mate Virgil van Dijk on 33 minutes left the home side with a mountain to climb.
Despite the absence of Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations, Alexander Isak again started on the bench.
Arne Slot introduced the most expensive Premier League player of all time at the break.
The Swede netted just his third goal since joining Liverpool for £125 million in September but suffered another injury setback in the process and had to be replaced.
Hugo Ekitike headed in his fifth goal in three league games to double Liverpool’s lead.
But Slot’s men still wobbled in the closing stages once Richarlison pulled a goal back.
A fifth defeat in nine home league games this season intensified the pressure on Frank and the Dane was not helped by his captain Cristian Romero, who got himself needlessly sent off in stoppage time.
Liverpool climb up to fifth, while Spurs are rooted down in 13th.
Chelsea remain above the Reds in fourth on goal difference as a second-half fightback rescued manager Enzo Maresca from more speculation over his future.
The Italian claimed after last weekend’s win over Everton that he and his players had not received enough support during a difficult run of results.
Maresca was then linked with being Guardiola’s successor at City in recent days.
Chelsea have won just once in their last five league games to see ambitions of a title challenge wilt.
But it could have been even worse for Maresca as Nick Woltemade’s double put Newcastle 2-0 up in a dominant first half from the Magpies.
A brilliant Reece James free-kick brought the Blues back into the game before Joao Pedro pounced on an error from Malick Thiaw to equalize.
Newcastle felt aggrieved as two late appeals for penalties and for James to be sent off were dismissed to leave Eddie Howe’s men languishing in 11th.
Wolves remain without a league win this season and on course to enter the record books as the worst side in Premier League history.
Keane Lewis-Potter scored both goals as Brentford won 2-0 at Molineux to move 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Burnley ended their seven-game losing streak as Armando Broja’s 90th-minute goal snatched a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
Sunderland edged up to sixth after a 0-0 draw at Brighton.
