Babar, others reach Florida for WI ODIs
Four members of Pakistan's ODI squad reached here on Friday for the upcoming three-match series against West Indies, scheduled to get underway on August 8.
According to the details, the four players who touched down here are skipper Mohammad Rizwan, ace batter Babar Azam, Abdullah Shafique and Naseem Shah.
The quartet will link up with the remaining members of the ODI squad here, which will depart for Trinidad and Tobago following the conclusion of the T20I series.
The three ODIs are scheduled to be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on August 8, 10 and 12, respectively.
Notably, this tour marks Babar's return to the national team in any format, with his last appearance coming in April against New Zealand earlier this year.
The 30-year-old is not part of Pakistan's T20I plans, with his most recent appearance in the shortest format dating back to December 2024 against South Africa.
Wicketkeeper batter Rizwan's last T20I appearance also came during the same series.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's T20I squad made a triumphant start to its three-match series against West Indies by securing a comprehensive 14-run victory here at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground on Thursday.
Pakistan ODI Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Muqeem.
Protect fast bowlers
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken fresh steps to reduce injuries among fast bowlers by focusing on fitness, diet, and technical skills.
According to sources, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore will be the main center for this program. Coaches and experts at the academy will work on improving the bowling actions and overall skill development of the players.
The plan is led by Director of High Performance Aaqib Javed and includes customised fitness routines, special diet plans, and focused training in fielding, batting, and bowling. The aim is to help fast bowlers stay fit and perform consistently over the long term.
"The goal is to ensure that our fast bowlers remain fit and technically sound, reducing the likelihood of injuries that often derail their progress," a source said.
Young fast bowlers Aamer Jamal and Hunain Shah are also taking part in skill enhancement sessions at the NCA. In addition, work is being done to improve the bowling action of Aakif Javed as part of this larger plan to strengthen Pakistan's pace bowling department.
Earlier, in June, a skill development camp began at the NCA with 17 players. On the first day, players attended fielding and fitness sessions under the guidance of coaches.
Mohammad Naeem is expected to join later in the evening, while Ali Zaryab was due to report on July 2.
From Monday to Thursday, players trained early in the morning from 6:00 am to 8:00 am and returned for skill sessions, including net practice, from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm at both the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) Ground and the NCA.
The second phase of the camp included match-scenario training at the LCCA Ground over the last two days.
In total, 47 players were shortlisted for the camp and divided into three groups. The camp ran from June 16 to July 5. After the second phase, 17 players were chosen for the final round held from June 30 to July 4.
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