CricketViewer.com

Pakistan will field a strong line-up for their final warm-up match for next week’s first Test against England.

The tourists take on England A in a four-day game starting at the St Lawrence Ground, here on Thursday.

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is likely to return to the action. Paceman Mohammad Asif, batsman Mohammad Yousuf and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq also missed the win against Leicestershire.

“I would expect it to be close to Test team because it is the last match (before the first Test match),” team’s manager Zaheer Abbas said. “The batsmen and bowlers had a good workout at the Grace Road (against Leicestershire) and let us hope they can continue their good form and take it into next week.”

The only player sidelined is the seamer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who will miss the opening match of the four-Test series, which starts on 13 July at Lord’s, while he works his way back from a groin injury.

England A, led by Kent’s Robert Key, will field several young players hopeful of forcing their way into contention for the senior side.

Teams:

England A: Rob Key (captain), Alastair Cook, Ravinder Bopara, Ian Bell, Owais Shah, Jamie Dalrymple, Tim Bresnan, Chris Read (w/k), Alex Loudon, Stuart Broad and Matthew Hoggard.

Pakistan (from): Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Shoaib Malik, Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Faisal Iqbal, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal (w/k), Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Shahid Nazir, Danish Kaneria and Mohammad Asif.
Source:The News