Aussie coach surprised at Younis and Gul's exclusion – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033 (UAE), is surprised that Pakistan dropped some of their senior players for the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series.
The two countries are set to play three ODIs and as many T20 Internationals in the series, which begin on August 28, at Sharjah.
Pakistan have dropped their ace players, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Gul-c94604, for the 50-over competition. The latter however, will join the team for the T20s, which will be played in September.
The selectors are looking to rebuild the ODI squad after a miserable performance in their last series in Sri Lanka, where the Green Shirts lost by three games to one. The likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Junaid-Khan-c77037 have returned to the
national team.
Rixon is expecting an intense competition from the Green Shirts, but is shocked that the opposition has dropped its premier players for such an important battle.
The interim coach understands that the conditions in UAE are going to play a huge role in the outcome of the series.
"Both players are outstanding cricketers and I was a little surprised, to be honest, to see them both missing. But it gives opportunity for others to get there. We have to first take a look at the wicket to see whether it is a massive advantage or not,"
the former Test cricketer said.
Even without their senior players, Rixon is of the view that Pakistan is a very strong unit in the presence of some match-winners like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898.
"http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 have got a lot of experience in their side like Shoaib Malik, the likes of Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal, who has come back into the side. With players like Mohammad Hafeez too in the side, they are a bunch who have played well over 100-odd matches
for their county," he added.
Both the teams are going to use this series as preparation for the upcoming http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in September/October.
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