Australia plan to stay 'cool' in UAE

Australia won't let the UAE heat affect them in the forthcoming series against Pakistan there and the former world champions will do "everything possible" to stay cool, Pakistan Observer reported on Thursday.

Peter Young, General Manager (Public Affairs) of Cricket Australia, has said that Australian team's physio Alex Kountouris will be using all "standard processes" to ensure that the players don't dehydrate under the blazing UAE sun.

"I have liased with Mr Alex Kountouris, the Australian team physiotherapist, who confirms the standard processes we use to manage hydration when we regularly play cricket in hot weather, including here in Australia, will be used in the UAE," Young said from Melbourne.

"For example, we will be using ice baths and pre-cooling strategies such as iced drinks, electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade and the measurement of hydration status with analysis of body weight and urine analysis," he added.

Australia will play three ODIs and three T20 internationals in Pakistan's 'home' series in August and September this year, with UAE as the neutral venue.

The ODI matches are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. instead of the standard 4 p.m. starts in the Emirates to prevent players from being exposed to the late afternoon heat.