Pakistan A side to compete in Darwin’s Top End Series

Some of the best young cricketers from around the world will arrive in Darwin this month for the Top End Series. Check out which teams are taking part.

International and Big Bash squads will be arriving in Darwin this month for what is shaping up to be the biggest Top End Series yet.

Pakistan A will headline the six-team series that includes PNG, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, ACT Comets and NT Strike.

Beginning on July 30, the series pits the six squads against each other to battle it out across 16 action-packed T20s and eight days of cricket at DXC Arena, TIO Stadium and Gardens Oval.

Each team will play five fixtures during the round robin, getting the chance to play each opponent before the top two face off in the final on August 6.

Ali Asfand of the Pakistan Shaheens heading to Darwin for Top End Series.

NT head of cricket Darren Treumer said it was exciting to put the NT Strike team, which would include local prodigy Tom Menzies, against some top quality sides.

“Knowing the standard and calibre of visiting teams that are coming this year it is going to be a very exciting opportunity for our players,” Treumer said.

“I’m confident from what I’ve seen in the Men’s Strike League that we’re going to be a very competitive outfit.”

The Pakistan side will be captained by wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir with this tour being part of the PCB’s policy to create more opportunities for emerging cricketers.

Tom Menzies is one of the young stars of Territory cricket. Picture: NT Cricket.

Nazir has previously captained the Shaheens and has played 33 first class matches.

The side also includes seven teenagers who were part of the Pakistan U19 squad that toured Bangladesh for a four-dayer, five 50-over and one T20 match series in May.

Those teenagers include Amir Hassan, Ali Asfand, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Sajjad Ali, Shamyl Hussain and Wahaj Riaz.

Details regarding ticketing and both Australian and global livestreaming will be announced soon.