The former South Australia and Adelaide Strikers coach will oversee two four-day matches in Darwin next month
ESPNcricinfo Staff
Jason Gillespie’s first tour since being named Pakistan’s Test coach will see him back in Australia as he oversees two four-day matches for the Shaheens (Pakistan A) in Darwin next month.
Pakistan Shaheens will play two four-day games against Bangladesh A between July 19-22 and 26-29 with Gillespie as coach for these matches before returning to Pakistan to prepare for a two-Test series against Bangladesh.
The Shaheens will remain in Darwin in August, playing 50 matches against Northern Territory and Bangladesh A, before taking part in an expanded nine-team Top End T20 series for the second consecutive year.
“The opportunity to be the head coach of the Pakistan Test team is fantastic,” Gillespie, who stepped down as coach of South Australia and the Adelaide Strikers, told a PCB podcast shortly after his appointment. “It’s an honour. I’ve been coaching for quite some time in various roles around the world, but one thing I haven’t done is coach an international test team. When this opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it.
The Top End series, staged from August 9 to 18, will also feature a high-performing Bangladesh side. The Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers will send teams while Tasmania will also feature. Academy teams from Melbourne Renegades and Stars will again take part as in previous seasons, while defending champions NT Strike and ACT Comets make up the tournament.
The PCB has announced the Shaheens squad, with one more player and one captain to be confirmed ahead of the tour, which includes fast bowler Khurram Shahzad who made his Test debut against Australia in Perth last year before his tour ended early due to injury.
“I am grateful to the Northern Territory for inviting the Shaheens of Pakistan for the second consecutive year,” said PCB director of international cricket Usman Wahla. “Last year, the players had an unforgettable experience and enjoyed playing and playing in excellent playing conditions, in front of enthusiastic cricket fans.
“This year we have added red ball cricket matches to give more exposure to our cricketers and I am sure the players will benefit from this tour and come back as better cricketers.”
During the Test series, which Pakistan lost 3-0 but pushed Australia to Melbourne and Sydney, then team manager Mohammad Hafeez said there were discussions between the PCB and CA about future tour opportunities for development teams .
For the Australian domestic cricketers involved, the Top End T20 series will provide a pre-season opportunity for those not in overseas action.
“The competition adds another layer to what would normally be our preparation, exposing the players to tournament conditions ahead of the domestic season in Australia,” said Perth Scorchers general manager Kade Harvey. “It’s also a great opportunity for some of WA’s most promising prospects to test themselves against quality opposition from Australia and Asia.”
Last year the tournament featured Jake Fraser-McGurk and Will Sutherland who have since represented Australia, and in Fraser-McGurk’s case conquered the T20 world in the IPL.
“Having two cricketing powerhouses in Pakistan and Bangladesh now participating along with half of the Big Bash League franchises is a testament to the potential of winter cricket in the Territory.” NT Cricket CEO Gavin Dovey said.
Further squads for the Top End T20 series will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Shaheens of Pakistan to tour Darwin Haseebullah, Hunain Shah, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Huraira, Mubasir Khan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir, Umar Amin