Kent v Pakistan (Saturday, 11am)
Kent will face Pakistan for the eleventh time in first class cricket on Saturday with Joe Denly leading a strong side against the tourists at The Spitfire Ground (11am start).
The first Canterbury-born Kent captain and first Academy scholar to play for England is relishing the challenge posed by the Champions Trophy winners.
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The 31-year-old batsman played for Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League this winter under Pakistan head coach Micky Arthur and alongside paceman Mohammad Amir and batsman Babar Azam, who could feature at Canterbury.
The 2017 player of the year, who scored half-centuries in each innings in Kent’s last match against Pakistan in 2010, said: “It’s a chance to test yourself against an international-class line up and give yourself a thorough exam as to where you are in your career as a player.
“If you can perform well in a game like this, then there’s no doubt you’ll take a lot of confidence from it moving forward.”
Alex Blake, Calum Haggett and Adam Riley earn recalls to the side after impressive recent performances in the second XI as Heino Kuhn, Darren Stevens and Matt Henry are rested ahead of next week’s Specsavers County Championship trip to Glamorgan.
Kent are still without injured Mitch Claydon (hand), Grant Stewart (hamstring) and James Tredwell (shoulder).
Kent XI: 6 Joe Denly (c), 23 Daniel Bell-Drummond, 58 Sean Dickson, 16 Zak Crawley, 10 Alex Blake, 42 Will Gidman, 12 Adam Rouse (wk), 25 Calum Haggett, 1 Harry Podmore, 33 Adam Riley, 5 Ivan Thomas.
Pakistan squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), Azhar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Sami Aslam, Haris Sohail, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saad Ali, Asad Shafiq, Usman Salahuddin, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Faheem Ashraf.
Tickets cost £5 for under 16s and £15 for adults in advance (£10 and £20 each on the gate). Entry is included in All Rounder and Championship Plus Memberships and an option for Six Pack holders.
Parking is available on days 1-2 (Saturday 28 & Sunday 29) at the Simon Langton Girls Grammar School (CT1 3EW) and New Dover Park & Ride (CT1 3EJ) on all matchdays.