PCB Launches White-Ball Camp Ahead of South Africa Series

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has quickly started preparations for the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa by organizing a special training camp in Lahore. Several key players have been called up to join this camp as the board aims to strengthen the team’s readiness for the limited-overs matches ahead.

Even though the Test series has only just begun, Pakistan’s focus has already shifted toward the white-ball format. The upcoming games are considered crucial, as South Africa is one of the strongest teams in world cricket. The PCB and coaching staff want to ensure that every player is in top form before the high-intensity contests begin.

According to sports journalist Sohail Imran, Pakistan’s head coach, Mike Hesson, personally decided to gather a group of white-ball specialists at the National High-Performance Centre (NHPC) in Lahore. The goal is to polish the players’ skills and improve their overall fitness before the T20I and ODI series begins on October 28. The camp includes players like Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah, among others. These players have been excused from the second round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy so they can fully concentrate on preparing for the national side.

Reports suggest that Mike Hesson is putting strong emphasis on fine-tuning Pakistan’s white-ball strategy. His main focus areas include power-hitting, death-over bowling, and improving fielding standards — all of which have been major talking points since he took charge as head coach. The camp is designed to address these weaknesses through intense practice sessions and tactical training.

The ongoing camp will also help the selectors and team management identify players who might be part of Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Although Hesson has tried to maintain stability in team selection since his appointment, sources indicate that some changes are expected. Players like Khushdil Shah and Hussain Talat may not make the final cut, while rising star Irfan Khan Niazi could earn a spot in the limited-overs setup thanks to his consistent domestic performances.

The white-ball series against South Africa will consist of three T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals, starting on October 28 and continuing until November 8. This series is seen as a perfect opportunity for Pakistan to test their bench strength, experiment with new combinations, and build momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup.

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