Zaka Ashraf meets Pakistan team ahead of Afghanistan series

The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Zaka Ashraf on Monday met with the Pakistan team ahead of the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan which will be played in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.

Ashraf met the team to give them confidence as they take on the Afghans in the first ODI on Tuesday (August 22).

Speaking to the team on this occasion, the PCB head stated that he has full confidence in the team.

"I have great hope that with your efforts and hard work, Pakistan will win the Asia Cup. After securing victory, I am sure you will carry this momentum and confidence in the World Cup, bringing the World Cup trophy back home," Ashraf said.

“This team under our great captain [Babar Azam] is performing really well. He has a talented team, and they are all performing in their respective roles. We have world-class batters and bowlers on the side. We have a good combination and I don’t find any reason why we should not win this trophy.”

He also stated that former cricketers from Pakistan and around the world are backing Pakistan as favourites for the Asia Cup because of their current form.

"All of you are capable enough to beat your opponents. We have won the World Cup before and secured the Asia Cup twice. There is no reason to believe we cannot do it again. Show your best performance on the field. Best wishes are with you," he added.

After playing three ODIs against Afghanistan. the national team will return to Pakistan to prepare for the Asia Cup 2023 where they will take on Nepal on August 30 in Multan in the first match of the tournament.

Afghanistan series Schedule

22 Aug – First ODI, Hambantota

24 Aug – Second ODI, Hambantota

26 Aug – Third ODI, Colombo

Squads

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Haris (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi.

Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Mohammad Saleem Safi and Wafadar Momand.

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