ISLAMABAD – The MCC have confirmed the 15-man squad which will embark on ashort tour of Pakistan in March.
President Kumar Sangakkara will captain the group, which will play threeT20 matches next month.
Among the stand-out names named are England World Cup winner Liam Dawsonand former internationals Ravi Bopara and Samit Patel.
The squad, which blends experienced and youthful players also includesWarwickshire pair Michael Burgess and Wil Rhodes, Worcestershire’s RossWhiteley and Roelof van der Merwe of Somerset.
Dawson, Patel and Phil Salt will only be available for one match of thetour due to their involvement in the Pakistan Super League which runsbetween February 2 and March 22.
PSL sides Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans and domestic T20 championsNorthern represent the opponents for MCC in three stand-alone matchesduring the tour.
The batch of fixtures have been arranged in an effort to build on thereturn of cricket to *Pakistan*link afterTests were played there for the first time in a decade during the back-endof 2019.
Read Top Stories
Assistant Secretary John Stephenson said: “We are thrilled to be able toname a strong squad for this tour, which blends youth and experience for astrong side of high quality.
“We have really appreciated the collaborative approach from the PakistanCricket Board and the Pakistan Super League, which has enabled us toarrange fixtures against sides preparing for this year’s PSL tournament aswell as to secure the services of some of those participating.
“As a club, we share the PCB’s wish in wanting to see international teamsreturning to play in Pakistan on a regular basis and we hope that this tourcontributes to those objectives.”
*MCC squad:* Kumar Sangakkara, Ravi Bopara (Sussex), Michael Burgess(Warwickshire), Oliver Hannon-Dalby (Warwickshire), Fred Klaassen (Kent),Michael Leask (Scotland), Arron Lilley (Leicestershire), Imran Qayyum(Kent), Will Rhodes (Warwickshire), Safyaan Sharif (Scotland), Roelof vander Merwe (Somerset), Ross Whiteley (Worcestershire), Liam Dawson(Hampshire) Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire), Phil Salt (Sussex)
