Pakistan to tour Sri Lanka next month

COLOMBO: Pakistan will tour Sri Lanka next month for three Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 games, Sri Lanka Cricket said on Monday.
The Pakistanis will kick off the six-week tour with two Twenty20 matches in the southern port town of Hambantota on June 1 and June 3.
The first two one-day internationals will be played in Pallekele on June 7 and June 9, followed by the remaining three at the Premadasa stadium in Colombo on June 13, 16 and 18.
The three back-to-back Tests will be held in Galle (June 22-26), the Sinhalese sports club in Colombo (June 30-July 4) and Pallekele (July 8-12).
Pakistan last toured Sri Lanka in 2009 where they lost the Test series 2-0.
The two sides met in the United Arab Emirates last year where Pakistan won both the Test and one-day series and also clinched the lone Twenty20 international.
Tour itinerary:
June 1 : First Twenty20 international, Hambantota
June 3 : Second Twenty20 international, Hambantota
June 7 : First one-dayer, Pallekele
June 9 : Second one-dayer, Pallekele
June 13: Third one-dayer, Colombo
June 16: Fourth one-dayer, Colombo
June 18: Fifth one-dayer, Colombo
June 22-26: First Test, Galle
June 30-July 4: Second Test, Colombo
July 8-12: Third Test, Pallekele.

Cricket: Bowling coach to be finalised ‘soon’

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) committee, formed to finalise the bowling coach, has announced that it will convene a meeting this week to shortlist candidates ahead of the Sri Lanka series.
As Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed the itinerary for the Pakistan series, which comprises two Twenty20s, five One-Day Internationals (ODI) and three Tests, the PCB is also gearing up in finalising the preparations for the tour.
Intikhab Alam, who heads the coach-hunt committee, said that the new bowling coach will be named before the Sri Lanka tour. “We’ll convene a meeting this week,” Alam told The Express Tribune. “It will be crucial since we’ll shortlist the candidates. Hopefully, we’ll complete the process and announce the coach within a couple of weeks.”
The post was left vacant following Aqib Javed’s move to become the UAE head coach after the England series. Pakistan then featured in the Asia Cup without a bowling coach with Sarfraz Nawaz holding a brief camp for the pacemen before the team’s departure to Dhaka.
Despite the triumph, a poor performance by the pacemen led to calls for the quick appointment of a bowling coach but Alam hinted that the new appointee should be able to get enough time with the team in the training camp ahead of the Sri Lanka series.
Around 11 candidates have applied for the post. According to reports, the list includes Ian Pont, a former Bangladesh bowling coach, Bazeegh Zaka, the Maldives coach, and former Pakistan players Jalaluddin, Mohsin Kamal, Sabih Azhar and Mohammad Akram and Mushtaq Ahmed. Alam said the committee will ‘finalise the best candidate irrespective of nationality’.

Not losing heart: I’ll wait for my turn, says Yousuf

KARACHI:  Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has dismissed the impression that he is trying to make his way into the team through a ‘shortcut’, adding that he will continue the hard work and wait until his turn comes to don the national colours again.

Yousuf, who last played for Pakistan during the five-match One-Day International series against South Africa in November 2010, has stayed away from any form of cricket for at least nine months. However, the right-hander started training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) earlier this month and underwent a fitness test under the supervision of head coach Dav Whatmore, fuelling speculation of his return to the national team ahead of the Sri Lanka series.
However, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Selector Iqbal Qasim ruled out the immediate return of the 37-year-old, saying that the former captain will have to prove his worth and play at the domestic circuit first.
Following the chief selector’s remarks, Yousuf said that he was ready to continue the hard work he has put in as he aims to win back his place in the side.
“I’ve returned to playing cricket,” Yousuf told The Express Tribune. “I believe I can play for my country again and continue doing so for a few years.
“I am not looking at shortcuts to gain an entry in the team. I’m concentrating on continuing the hard work that I’ve put in and play at any level till I regain my place in the playing-eleven.
“I won’t be disappointed if I’m not selected for the Sri Lanka tour and will play domestic cricket to gain the selectors’ confidence.”
Pakistan will play two Twenty20s, five One-Day Internationals and three Tests against Sri Lanka on their sojourn starting early June.
U-turn on county stint
Yousuf, who was least interested in his county stint with Leicestershire earlier this year as the schedule clashed with Ramazan, said he was now looking for a fresh contract.
“I’ve approached Leiceste-rshire through my representative recently.
“I declined an offer earlier due to Ramazan and now I’ve asked them for a contract for matches before or after the month. Hopefully, I’ll get the brief stint which will be extremely important for me.”
The veteran batsman said that in the meantime he will continue his training at the NCA.
“I had a few days of rest in Karachi and I’ll return
to resume my training from today.”