Iftikhar Ahmed smashes century in intra-squad practice match

Karachi: Middle-order batsman Iftikhar Ahmed hit an unbeaten 102 off 48 balls in an intra-squad practice match at the events center in Queenstown.

Batsman Abdullah Shafiq scored 38 while all-rounder Hussain Talat made 24 runs. Faheem Ashraf picked up two wickets while fast-bowlers Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Hasnain took one wicket each.

The batters were asked to bat during the intra-squad match and bowlers were tasked to bowl in match-like situations to better prepare ahead of the first T20I.

The national team will lock horns against New Zealand in the three-match T20I series on December 18, 20 and 22 in Auckland, Hamilton and Napier, respectively.

 

The 18-member squad including Imam-ul-Haq will leave for Auckland tomorrow. Imam has not traveled to Whangarei with the Pakistan Shaheens squad after suffering from a thumb injury as team doctors will monitor his injury.

Pakistan Shaheens will take on New Zealand ‘A’ ahead of their only four-day match on December 17.

It must be noted Pakistan suffered a huge blow yesterday after captain Babar Azam injured his thumb, ruling him out of the T20I series. All-rounder Shadab Khan will lead Pakistan in Babar’s absence but he is also suffering from a groin niggle.

Read: Misbah-ul-Haq optimistic on Shadab Khan’s availability for T20I series

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