Pakistan’s rare jam-packed Test season is just a few sleeps away. While there has been a lot going around the series lately, with matches being shifted and players being released, Pakistan team management has not delayed the announcement of the playing XI for the first Test match which will begin on August 21 against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Led by the new captain Shan Masood, who will be captaining the side for his second assignment, the Pakistan team has decided to field four pacers with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah leading the attack and Mohammad Ali and Khurram Shehzad complementing the pace duo. This will be the first time in 28 years that the Asian team will play a Test match without a main spinner.
The men in green will open the innings with the youngsters, Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub, followed by the Skipper at number three and finally, Babar Azam playing at the 4th position. Newly appointed vice-captain, Saud Shakeel, who scored at an average of a little more than 15 during the Test tour down under earlier this year, will form the middle-order with wicket-keeper batter, Mohammad Rizwan. Rizwan was selected ahead of Sarfaraz Ahmed on the back of his incredible outings with the bat against Australia. Earlier the hosts released their frontline spinner, Abrar Ahmed, from the squad for the first Test match so the spin responsibilities will rest on spin all-rounder Salman Ali Agha’s shoulders.
In addition to Abrar, fast-bowling all-rounder, Aamer Jamal, was also left out of the squad owing to his back pain. Jamal, who was clinical with his all-around skills during the Test series against Australia, picked up an injury during the recent county season where he represented Warwickshire. He was initially selected with his inclusion in the playing XI contingent on his fitness. However, he could not get clearance for his fitness before the start of the series.
“Right-arm fast bowler Aamir Jamal has been released from the Test squad ahead of the series against Bangladesh. Aamir, who was earlier included in the squad subject to fitness clearance, has been advised to work on his fitness at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore,” a PCB release said earlier today.
“Aamir is recovering from a back injury which he sustained while playing county cricket this year.”
Playing four pacers means, the job of the batters has increased multifold. Add to that the fact that Rawalpindi will flaunt a green top during the opening test. All these indicate that batters on both sides will need to jump above their weight to set a respectable total.
This red-ball series as a whole is very crucial for Pakistan to bag if they want to stay in the hunt for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Currently, they are occupying the sixth position on the points table, with 22 points.
Pakistan’s Playing XI for first Bangladesh Test
Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad
