The red-ball pre-season fielding and fitness camp is set to commence tomorrow at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre in Karachi. This two-week camp, running until 7 July, will include 24 participants. The 25th player for the camp will be confirmed shortly.
Following the conclusion of the red-ball camp, 15 players will join the Pakistan Shaheens’ camp scheduled from 8 to 13 July. The Shaheens will then depart for Darwin, Australia on 14 July, where they are slated to compete in two four-day matches against Bangladesh ‘A’, two one-day games, and participate in the nine-team Top End T20 Series.
Among the 24 camp participants, eight cricketers—Abdullah Shafique (17 Tests), Imam-ul-Haq (24 Tests), Khurram Shahzad (one Test), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (two Tests), Sarfaraz Ahmed (54 Tests), Saud Shakeel (10 Tests), Umar Amin (four Tests), and Zahid Mahmood (two Tests)—have previously represented Pakistan in Test cricket. The upcoming season includes nine Test matches as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25, making this camp crucial for the players to prepare for the red-ball season.
Pakistan is scheduled to play two Test matches against Bangladesh and three against England, both at home in August and October, respectively. Subsequently, Pakistan will travel to South Africa for two Test matches in December/January, followed by two Tests at home against West Indies in January 2025.
Imam-ul-Haq, a seasoned Test cricketer, commented on the eve of the camp: “With nine Test matches lined up this season, this camp presents a great opportunity for us to focus on fitness and prepare for a demanding schedule.”
Mehran Mumtaz, a 21-year-old player selected for the camp, shared his enthusiasm: “After recently attending the NCA spinners’ camp, participating in this red-ball camp in Karachi is another chance for me to refine my skills. It’s a valuable learning opportunity for young players like me to work alongside senior cricketers and understand the standards required at the highest level.”
Mumtaz also expressed his excitement about being part of the Shaheens’ tour to Darwin, seeing it as a platform to showcase his talent ahead of a busy red-ball season.
The camp participants will report later tonight, and the PCB will share pictures and video clips from tomorrow’s session with media via WhatsApp groups.
