Jason Gillespie will return to Australia with the Pakistan Shaheens

The Shaheens will stay in Darwin in August, playing 50-over matches against the Northern Territory and Bangladesh A, before taking part in an extended nine-team Top End T20 series for the second year running.

The Top End series, to be played from August 9 to August 18, will also feature the Bangladesh High Performance side. Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers will send teams while Tasmania will also feature. Academy teams from Melbourne Renegades and Stars will again take part as in previous seasons while defending champions NT Strike and ACT Comets form the competition.

“I thank the Northern Territory for inviting the Shaheens of Pakistan for the second consecutive year,” said PCB director of international cricket Usman Wahla. “Last year, the players had an unforgettable experience and enjoyed playing and doing well in playing conditions, in front of passionate cricket fans.

“This year we have added red ball cricket matches to give exposure to our cricketers and I hope the players will benefit from this trip and will come back better cricketers.”

During the Test series, Pakistan lost 3-0 but pushed Australia in Melbourne and Sydney, then team director Mohammad Hafeez said there had been discussions between the PCB and CA about future touring opportunities for the developing teams.

For Australian domestic cricketers concerned, the Top End T20 series will provide a pre-season opportunity for those overseas.

“The competition adds another stage to what is often our pre-season, exposing players to competitive conditions ahead of the Australian domestic season,” said Kade Harvey, general manager of the Perth Scorchers. “It’s also a great opportunity for some of WA’s most promising prospects to test themselves against quality opposition from Australia and Asia.”

Last year, the tournament was tied to Jake Fraser-McGurk and Will Sutherland who are now representing Australia, and in Fraser-McGurk’s case they took the T20 world by storm in the IPL.

“Having two of the strongest cricket teams in Pakistan and Bangladesh now participating alongside half of the franchises in the Big Bash League is a testament to the strength of winter cricket in the Territory.” NT Cricket CEO Gavin Dovey said.

The rest of the teams for the Top End T20 series will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Pakistan Shaheens to visit Darwin Haseebullah, Hunain Shah, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Huraira, Mubasir Khan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir, Umar Amin