Shahnaz to try ‘new ideas’ in Australia tour

KARACHI: Pakistan chief coach Shahnaz Sheikh has said the Green-shirts are going to play international matches in Australia after two years and it would help the team prepare for Rio Olympics.
Talking to ‘The News’ from Lahore, after announcement of the 18-member team for Australian tour where Pakistan are to play a four-nation, he said the team was passing through a difficult phase. He said he believed that great nations come out of such phases and create opportunities.
Pakistan’s main concern has been lack of match temperament and it develops only with playing maximum matches, he said.
“We want to play 25 to 30 matches but due to poor financial position it is not possible. Even then, we will play 15 to 20 international matches before going to Belgium in July for Olympic qualifying rounds,” he said.
He said that two new players have been inducted in place of Rizwan Sr and Rashid Mehmood.
The selectors have inducted two new players, Faisal Qadir and Rizwan Ali, for the tour.
Besides Australia and Pakistan, the teams in the tournament are South Korea and New Zealand.
He said those who did not appear in the trials because of their engagements in leagues abroad were not considered for selection.
“We are going to try some new ideas so that whatever marking of us may have been noted in last Champions Trophy can be foiled,” h he said.
He added the team would leave the country on April 28 from Karachi and return on May 12. “If needed we will have changes in the team for South Korea tour. The performance of the players in Australia will play a role in selection for South Korea tour,” he said.