ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced an 18-member squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against England, with star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi ruled out on account of a knee injury.
The first Test between Pakistan and England starts in Rawalpindi on December 1, followed by Tests in Multan (December 9-13) and Karachi (December 17-21).
The 18-member Pakistan team includes Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakil, Shan Masood and Zahid Mehmood.
“If we talk about the squad for this series, then obviously the usual factors that we see are opposition assessment, our strengths and conditions we are playing in,” chief selector Mohammad Waseem announced at a press conference.
“We have gathered this squad keeping all those things in view.”
Afridi, who leads Pakistani pace attack, was not part of the squad as the star bowler is undergoing rehab for two weeks on a knee injury he sustained in the Twenty20 World Cup final against England.
The 22-year-old left-arm quick also underwent appendectomy on Sunday and was “feeling better” after the surgery, he shared on Twitter.
Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed and fast bowler Mohammad Ali have been rewarded for their strong first-class performances with maiden Test call-ups, according to the PCB.
Ahmed, 24, is in red-hot form in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Before the start of the last round on Sunday, Abrar has claimed 43 wickets at an average of 21.95.
He has recorded five five-wicket hauls in six matches and has played an integral role in turning his side into serious contenders to secure a berth in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final.
Central Punjab’s Mohammad Ali has been the best fast bowler in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in the last two editions, taking 56 wickets.
“His 24 wickets, including two five wicket hauls, at 25.54 in six matches are the most for any fast bowler this first-class season. His 32 wickets at 22.78 in eight matches in 2021-22 were also the most for a fast bowler,” the PCB said in a statement.
Uncapped Mohammad Wasim Jr. and Zahid Mehmood, who were part of the Test side for the three Tests against Australia earlier this year, are the other two players to return to the side.
