Kumar Sangakkara To Lead MCC Squad In 2020 Tour Of Pakistan

Updated - 26 Feb 2020, 02:43 PM

Kumar Sangakkara, MCC, MCC Pakistan Tour

Kumar Sangakkara (Credit: PCB)

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Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is set to play against Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans apart from Northerns – the domestic T20 title winners. The tour aims to ease fears as international sides have started to tour Pakistan and promote cricket in the country. Interestingly, its current president Kumar Sangakkara will lead the 12-member squad.

Ravi Bopara also named in the side that will be coached by Ajmal Shahzad. The side also includes the likes of Safyaan Sharif and Michael Leask from Scotland along with Netherlands pair Roelof van der Merwe and Fred Klaassen. Saud Shakeel will captain the Pakistan Shaheens while Rohail Nazir will lead Northerns.

Kumar Sangakkara, MCC, 2020 Tour of Pakistan — Ravi Bopara (Image Courtesy: Getty)

Thrilled to be able to name a strong squad – J Stephenson

England internationals Samit Patel and Liam Dawson, as well as Sussex’s Phil Salt, will each feature in one match, as part of a link-up with the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The MCC’s chief executive, Guy Lavender, will take on the role of team manager, supported by MCC assistant secretary (cricket) and former England, Essex and Hampshire allrounder John Stephenson.

“We are thrilled to be able to name a strong squad for this tour, which blends youth and experience for a strong side of high quality,” John Stephenson, the MCC assistant secretary, said.

“We have really appreciated the collaborative approach from the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Pakistan Super League,” he added.

”It has enabled us to arrange fixtures against sides preparing for this year’s PSL tournament as well as to secure the services of some of those participating. As a club, we share the PCB’s wish in wanting to see international teams returning to play in Pakistan on a regular basis and we hope that this tour contributes to those objectives,” he added as per PTI.

The tour was finalised following a full investigation into security measures and assessment into the viability of the trip. All of MCC’s matches on the tour will be played at Aitcheson College in Lahore.

Squads:

MCC Squad for 2020 tour of Pakistan; Kumar Sangakkara to lead the side:

MCC: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Ravi Bopara, Michael Burgess, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Fred Klaassen, Michael Leask, Arron Lilley, Imran Qayyum, Will Rhodes, Safyaan Sharif, Roelof van der Merwe, Ross Whiteley

Pakistan Shaheens: Saud Shakeel (capt), Akif Javed, Haider Ali, Hasan Mohsin, Imran Rafiq, Mohammad Mohsin, Omair Bin Yousuf, Rohail Nazir (wk), Saif Badar, Sameen Gul, Umar Khan, Zeeshan Malik.

Northern: Rohail Nazir (capt, wk), Faizan Riaz, Ali Imran, Haider Ali, Mubashir Khan, Musa Khan, Nauman Ali, Sarmad Bhatti, Shahzad Azam, Shiraz Khan, Zaid Alam, Zeeshan Malik.