Pakistan to face HK in Asian Games quarter-final today

LAHORE: Pakistan men’s cricket team will begin their Asian Games campaign on Monday when they take on Hong Kong in the quarter-final in Nisshin, Japan.

Pakistan arrived in Japan after four-day training camp in Karachi, where the players prepared on surfaces designed with the expected conditions in mind and also took part in scenario-based practice.

The squad trained in Nisshin on Sunday, but overnight rain and a wet outfield affected the session.

Speaking to the media before departure, captain Sahibzada Farhan said the team had prepared well for the tournament and was ready to adapt to the conditions.

“We prepared wickets according to the conditions we expect in Japan and tried to practice against spin as much as possible. We also worked on different match scenarios during the camp,” he said, adding, “We have players with experience of international cricket, domestic cricket and the HBL PSL. As professional cricketers, we have to be mentally prepared for all conditions because the weather and playing conditions are not in our control.”

He said, “Every match is important for us. We will focus on our first match and take every game seriously. It is a proud moment for me and my family to captain Pakistan. Whether I am playing as captain or as a player, my mindset remains the same. I want to play the way T20 cricket demands and I expect the players to do the same, play for the team and win matches for Pakistan.”

The semi-finals of the Asian Games cricket event will be played on Thursday, 1st October, while the bronze and gold medal matches will take place on Saturday, 3rd October.

15-member squad: Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan. (wicket-keeper)

Support staff: Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Mansoor Amjad (fielding coach), Muhammad Tahir (physiotherapist), Imran Ullah (trainer), Usman Hashmi (analyst-cum-team operations coordinator).

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