Karachi: Sahibzada Farhan has been appointed as the captain of the Pakistan Shaheens for their upcoming red-ball matches against Bangladesh ‘A’ in Darwin, Australia, scheduled from July 19 to 29. The team is set to participate in two four-day matches during this tour.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, 28-year-old Sahibzada Farhan, who has previously played five T20 Internationals for Pakistan and has a substantial first-class record with 58 matches and 4,401 runs, will lead the team. The announcement also highlighted changes and preparations within the team, including the replacement of fast bowler Hunain Shah with spinner Faisal Akram due to injury.

The Shaheens are scheduled to depart for Darwin early Saturday via Dubai, with a 15-member squad ready for the challenging matches. The squad includes a mix of experienced and emerging players, poised to gain valuable international experience. Jason Gillespie, former Australian fast bowler and the red-ball head coach for the tour, will oversee the team’s performance before returning to Pakistan to prepare for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.

The PCB also noted that the captain for the white-ball series, which includes two 50-over matches and a nine-team T20 tournament, will be announced later. The player support personnel for the tour features a blend of experienced and specialist coaches and staff, ensuring comprehensive preparation and support for the players.