Photo Credit: Pakistan Cricket Board
Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah will make his return to red-ball cricket after a 13-month absence, as the selectors announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh. Shah, who missed the series against Australia earlier this year due to a right shoulder injury sustained during the 2023 Asia Cup, has now recovered following surgery.
The series, part of the ICC World Test Championship, will see Rawalpindi hosting the first Test from August 21-25, followed by the second Test in Karachi from August 30 to September 3. Bangladesh is scheduled to arrive on August 17 for the two-match series.
Shan Masood has been appointed captain of Pakistan, with Saud Shakeel named as vice-captain, replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi. The selectors have also recalled fast bowler Mohammad Ali, who last played against England in 2022, and included uncapped batters Muhammad Hurraira and Kamran Ghulam due to their strong performances in domestic cricket.
Several players, including opening batter Imam-ul-Haq, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, left-arm spinners Mohammad Nawaz and Noman Ali, and off-spinner Sajid Khan, who toured Australia earlier this year, were dropped. Fast bowlers Mohammad Wasim and Hasan Ali were not considered due to injuries.
Separately, political unrest in Bangladesh has delayed the arrival of its ‘A’ team to Pakistan, now rescheduled to arrive on Saturday. The team will play two four-day games and three 50-over matches against Pakistan Shaheens, with all matches to be held in Islamabad. The tour will conclude with the final 50-over game on August 30.
Pakistan Test Squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal (subject to fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
