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Matthew Wade will be Australian wicketkeeper for historic tour of Pakistan

Ronny LernerNCA NewsWire
Australia's Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis are set to be part of the tour to Pakistan later this year.
Camera IconAustralia's Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis are set to be part of the tour to Pakistan later this year. Credit: Aijaz Rahi/AP

Australian T20 captain Aaron Finch has locked in World Cup winner Matthew Wade as his number one wicketkeeper for upcoming internationals including the tour of Pakistan despite the Hobart Hurricanes taking the gloves off him.

It comes as Australian Cricketers’ Association CEO Todd Greenberg declared he was confident “everyone will go” to Pakistan despite some expressing concerns about travelling.

In the last four games, the Hurricanes have opted for Ben McDermott behind the stumps over the Wade, who is the Hobart captain. But with white-ball series against New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan coming up in the next couple of months, Finch moved to give him man security.

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“They can do what they want, I’m not fussed to be fair,” Finch said of Hobart.

“How they structure up their side’s none of our business, he’ll still be the wicketkeeper for Australia in the T20s. He’ll be right.”

Finch has been the pick of the Renegades batsmen in what has been another forgettable summer for them, with 304 runs at 33.77, and a strike rate of 131.03, including three fifties as a one-day series against the Kiwis looms at the end of January.

“I feel like I’ve been hitting them OK, I’m moving reasonably well which is nice, so it’ll be a good challenge against New Zealand and Sri Lanka,” Finch said.

Matthew Wade has given up the gloves for the Hobart Hurricanes, but will keep for Australia in Pakistan.
Camera IconMatthew Wade has given up the gloves for the Hobart Hurricanes, but will keep for Australia in Pakistan. Credit: Mike Owen/Getty Images

But the series everyone is talking about is the historic tour of Pakistan set to take place in March and April, and Finch said he was “super excited” by the prospect of being part of the first Australian team to travel there since 1998.

“Providing everything is in place and it all goes ahead, I can’t wait for it,” he said.

On Wednesday, Greenberg declared the players were ready to tour Pakistan despite some expressing concerns about travelling.

“I think everyone will go,” Greenberg said.

“It’s a very significant tour with three Test matches.

“Talking to (the) players, they want to test themselves against the very best in the world and they want to play in different conditions.”

Greenberg said the Australian players “had a duty” to tour Pakistan for the betterment of world cricket and every precaution was being taken to protect them.

“We can’t just expect teams to continue to tour Australia and for us not to make that same level of commitment,” Greenberg told SEN.

“We’re not taking by chance and we’re doing everything possible to protect them … not just to the players but their families.

“We’ll take a really strong team and players will embrace that opportunity.”

The first Test is scheduled to take place on March 3 in Karachi.

Originally published as Matthew Wade will be Australian wicketkeeper for historic tour of Pakistan

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