HAFEEZ RECALLED FOR ODI SERIES IN AUSTRALIA
ISLAMABAD: All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been added to Pakistan’s squad as the 16th player for the five-match ODI series in Australia. The Pakistan Cricket Board says coach Mickey Arthur and captain Azhar Ali had requested the selection committee to send Hafeez to Australia for the ODI series, starting on Jan. 13. Hafeez had been out of international cricket since the tour of England last year due to poor form and fitness problems, and missed Pakistan’s series against the West Indies and New Zealand. However, he was recently cleared to bowl again after being banned for an illegal action, and apparently this prompted team management to recall the all-rounder. MUMBAI: England have arrived to play three ODIs and T20Is each after a rejuvenating Christmas break, having suffered a 4-0 defeat in the Test series. England’s limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan was busy playing in the Big Bash T20 League in Australia. In his last match before leaving for India, skipper Morgan slammed an unbeaten 71, capped by a lastball six, to help Sydney Thunders clinch a thriller against Melbourne Stars.
Morgan will hope to maintain his good form in India where he has featured in only one ODI series, in 2012-13, scoring 94 runs in five matches.
England will not just look for the scars of the Test series defeat to heal, but will be chasing their first ODI series in India since 1984-85, when
David Gower’s team beat Sunil Gavaskar’s men 4-1.
Morgan is confident his team can give India, with Virat Kohli taking over as skipper from MS Dhoni, a tough time. He points the England’s record in the last couple of years where they have done well in the ODI series after poor Test performances.
England beat Bangladesh 2-1 in the ODIs after drawing the Test series 1-1. They drew the Test series against Pakistan 2-2 at home, but came back to clinch the ODI series 4-1.
On Sunday, Morgan spoke to HT on the sidelines of a promotional event of Waitrose, touching on England’s chances in the series, India’s change of guard and how he is banking on his IPL experience to adapt to the conditions. Excerpts: