Farhat Lauds Pakistan Shaheens’ Tour, Eyes Future National Talent

KARACHI: Imran Farhat, the head coach for Pakistan Shaheens, has voiced his approval of the team’s displays during their recent tour of England, asserting that the players demonstrated their capabilities.

The Shaheens participated in a three-match one-day series and two three-day games while in England. They clinched the One-Day series against the Professional County Club Select XI with a 2-1 victory, while both red-ball matches concluded without a result.

During the white-ball series, Azan Awais shone with the bat for Pakistan Shaheens, emerging as the top scorer with 164 runs in three matches, aided by a pair of half-centuries.

On the bowling side, right-arm fast bowler Ubaid Shah led the wicket-taking charts with six wickets in three games, which included a four-wicket haul in the third One-Day.

In the two three-day contests, Shamyl Hussain led in runs scored, accumulating 151 across four innings, while Ali Zaryab and Rohail Nazir each achieved centuries.

Farhat, reflecting on his team’s performance during the tour, mentioned that the management has recognized a solid group of young players who could potentially represent the senior national team in the future.

He further applauded their proficiency across all areas and conveyed his anticipation for the players to continue building their experience.

“We’ve pinpointed a promising set of young talents who we believe will be important going forward. Our bowling in the one-day series was effective; each bowler produced strong outcomes, and our fielding was excellent. We ensured everyone had an opportunity to participate in the series, adhering to a structured approach and maintaining a consistent rotation policy,” Farhat stated to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Digital.

“Observing the red-ball matches, we witnessed some exceptional performances from the players. The areas we aimed to improve in the top order were addressed very well. Progressing forward, these players will keep gaining experience in first-class cricket and, hopefully, solidify their positions further,” he added.

Farhat also revealed that each player would receive a tailored ‘individual development plan’ following the tour, designed to help them concentrate on areas needing improvement and prepare them for international cricket.

“We’ve unearthed several talented players, in both red-ball and white-ball formats, which is a very encouraging outcome. Each player will now be provided with a personalized development strategy that targets areas for enhancement, whether technical, strategic, or professional, to ensure they are fully equipped for international cricket.

He then commended the players for their swift adaptation to the English conditions and suggested that the Pakistan Shaheens’ tour would contribute to strengthening the national team’s pool of players, ahead of their own tour of England later in the year.

“Our primary goal has been to cultivate a robust bench. These young players have demonstrated their potential through their performances. We also evaluated their adaptation to the English environment. With the Pakistan national team scheduled to tour here soon, identifying players who can quickly adjust and perform in these conditions was vital.”