Rising Star Hunain Shah Called in Camp as Pakistan Begin Australia ODI Preparations

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has scheduled a preparatory camp at the National Cricket Academy starting May 15 as part of its build-up to the home ODI series against Australia national cricket team. The training programme will run for nearly a week and will include both skill sessions and match simulations.

A pool of 28 players has been shortlisted for the camp, with selectors opting for a mix of established internationals and emerging talent. Among those included is Hunain Shah called in camp, alongside senior bowlers such as Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah. The camp will be jointly overseen by NCA coaches and the national white-ball team management.

Focus on Australia ODI series preparation

The training block is aimed at sharpening Pakistan’s limited-overs combination ahead of a three-match ODI series scheduled from May 30 to June 4. Matches will be played across Rawalpindi and Lahore, with all fixtures set to begin in the late afternoon.

This will be Australia’s first 50-over tour of Pakistan since 2022, when the hosts secured a series win. Pakistan also faced Australia earlier this year in a T20I series at the Gaddafi Stadium, where they completed a clean sweep.

Australia name reshuffled squad

Cricket Australia has announced a squad with several new faces for the tour. Young batter Oliver Peake and all-rounder Liam Scott have earned their first senior call-ups, while experienced players including captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have been rested.

Fast bowler Billy Stanlake returns to the national setup after a prolonged absence, and Riley Meredith is also back in contention for ODI selection. Some players involved in the latter stages of the Indian Premier League will join the squad later, following the completion of their franchise commitments.

Pakistan’s camp is expected to finalise combinations ahead of the series, with team management closely monitoring player workload and form during the training period.