Gulf News

Pakistan boost Test pace attack

Wicketkeep­er Ahmad and Gul shine in warm- up game

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Pakistan have added pacemen Tanveer Ahmad and Rahat Ali to their squad for the three- Test series in South Africa starting next week.

The Pakistan Cricket Board ( PCB) said the team, currently playing a four- day tour opener in East London before the first Test in Johannesbu­rg, sent a request for the extra bowlers.

A PCB press release said the bowlers would arrive in plenty of time to play on Friday.

Ahmad, 34, played the last of his four Tests in the West Indies in 2011 and has also played two one- day matches, while 24- year- old left- armer Ali played one limited- overs internatio­nal in Sri Lanka last year before he was discarded.

Pakistan will also play two Twenty20s and five one- day internatio­nals on the tour. A squad for the limited overs matches will be announced next month.

Meanwhile, wicketkeep­er Sarfraz Ahmad and opening bowler Umar Gul spurred a strong showing by the tourists on the second day of their four- day match against a South African Invitation XI at Buffalo Park on Saturday.

Ahmad hit 93 and Gul made 49 as the tourists recovered from their overnight 178 for six to reach 329 all out. Gul then took two early wickets to put the Invitation XI under pressure. They reached 213 for seven at the close in their only warm- up match before the first Test.

Ahmad, 25, a former Under- 19 World Cup winning captain whose only Test appearance was against Australia in Hobart last year, added 81 for the seventh wicket with Gul.

Ahmad had partnershi­ps of 45 for the ninth wicket with Junaid Khan and 49 for the last wicket with Mohammad Irfan before he was last man out. Offspinner Harmer finished with five for 88.

 ??  ?? Umar Gul contribute­d two wickets and 49 runs as Pakistan put the South African Invitation XI under pressure at Buffalo Park.
Rex Features
Umar Gul contribute­d two wickets and 49 runs as Pakistan put the South African Invitation XI under pressure at Buffalo Park. Rex Features

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