ISLAMABAD: Saad Baig is relishing the opportunity to return to the captaincy, this time with the added challenge of leading the PCB Patron’s XI against the visiting Sri Lankan Test side in a three-day practice match beginning Wednesday at the Islamabad Club ground.
The young wicketkeeper-batter, who previously captained Pakistan’s junior teams, has been handed his first assignment as leader of the Patron’s XI. He is keen to make the most of the opportunity while helping players adjust to the demands of red-ball cricket ahead of the two-Test series.
Expressing his excitement over the responsibility, Saad said captaining the side was an honour and an opportunity he was determined to justify. “I am obviously excited to wear the captain’s cap again after my stint with the junior teams. It feels great and is an honour to lead the Patron’s XI. I will make an all-out effort to justify the confidence placed in me,” Saad said in an interview with PCB Digital.
Saad acknowledged that switching from white-ball to red-ball cricket was not an easy transition, stressing that players would need to adapt their approach, patience and temperament to meet the different demands of the longer format.
“It is not easy to convert from white-ball to red-ball cricket. The requirements are different. In red-ball cricket, you have more time, but players need to adjust quickly to the format and understand what is required of them,” he said.
The three-day fixture will provide an important opportunity for Sri Lanka’s Test-bound players to fine-tune their preparations under match conditions before the opening Test, scheduled to begin at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on November 9. Both teams held training sessions at the Islamabad Club on Tuesday, a day before the practice match, as preparations gathered momentum.
Patron’s XI head coach Ijaz Ahmed Jr. described the fixture as a valuable opportunity for players to gain match practice and build confidence ahead of the demanding Test assignment. “This practice match is a great opportunity for the players involved in the Test series to prepare. All the players in our squad have come straight from playing domestic cricket, so it should be a good contest,” Ijaz said.
The Patron’s XI squad features seven members of Pakistan’s Test team, giving the national selectors and team management an opportunity to assess their form, fitness and readiness in the longer format.
The match will also serve as an important audition for the reserve fast bowlers, with two additional pacers from the Patron’s XI expected to be drafted into Pakistan’s Test squad following the conclusion of the three-day fixture.
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