The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday announced a revised schedule of Pakistan Under-19 cricket team's tour to Sri Lanka, which will now comprise five 50-over matches against Sri Lanka Under-19 in Hambantota from May 26 to June 5.
The tour was originally planned from May 6 to 20 comprising two four-day matches and three 50-over matches. However, the series was postponed on 27 April by Sri Lanka Cricket following 21st April terror events in Colombo.
PCB Director - International Cricket, Zakir Khan, said: "I am pleased to confirm the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team's tour to Sri Lanka is now back on track following 21 April tragic events. Pakistan have themselves been a victim of terrorism. In the past decade, we have suffered massively, both financially and in terms of growing and developing cricket in our country, following international teams' refusals to visit Pakistan."
Khan said, "When the offer for a revised schedule came on the table, the PCB management team unanimously agreed they will not allow any cricket playing country to go through the same difficulties and challenges as Pakistan. In such difficult times, the cricket family needs to stand together and support their member. The decision to visit Sri Lanka is not only to show solidarity with them but to also practice what we preach."
"In reaching the decision, we have reviewed and are satisfied with the security plans Sri Lanka Cricket have to put place for the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team. We have complete faith and confidence that our team will be well looked after in Sri Lanka," he said, adding: "In making the final decision, the PCB also took consent of the relevant authorities who backed our view to support Sri Lanka in these difficult times."
The Pakistan Under-19 squad has already been announced and the players have now been invited to attend a training camp at the National Cricket Academy from 19th May.
Immediately after the Sri Lanka tour, Pakistan Under-19 will travel to South Africa where they will play seven 50-over matches from 19 June to 7 July. The Under-19 tours are being organise to help the side be best prepared for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020, which will be staged in South Africa from 17th January to 9th February 2020.
Squad: Rohail Nazir (captain, wicket keeper); Mohammad Taha (vice-captain); Abbas Afridi; Akhtar Shah; Basit Ali; Haider Ali; Khayyam Khan (wicketkeeper); Mohammad Haris; Mohammad Junaid; Mohammad Wasim; Niaz Khan; Saim Ayub; Shiraz Khan; Suleman Shafqat and Qasim Akram.
Team management:
Azam Khan (coach-cum-manager), Mohtashim Rasheed (assistant coach), Faheem Shah (physiotherapist), Saboor Ahmed (trainer) and Usman Hashmi analyst.