Playing XI to be decided after pitch assessment: Azhar Mahmood

Pakistan's national cricket team head coach Azhar Mahmood said that the final playing XI would be confirmed after reviewing the pitch conditions.

Mahmood has termed Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi as an outstanding bowler during a media talk on the eve of the upcoming match. The head coach mentioned that a preparatory camp had been held prior to the series, aimed at improving the batters’ performance on spin-friendly wickets. He remarked that the top-order batsmen had performed well during the camp.

Mahmood said that Pakistan are scheduled to play six World Test Championship matches on home soil. He made it clear that a comprehensive plan is in place, with the clear objective of winning the championship. He added that the team’s morale is high and that each match would be approached as if it were a final.

He said he was not thinking about his future at the moment, and his attention was fully on the upcoming match. Playing on home ground, he emphasised, allows the team to make use of familiar conditions. The key, he said, is to plan around how to take 20 wickets.