England v Pakistan, 1st Test: Pakistan Probable XI

The Pakistanis have come here well prepared. The team as made to undergo punishing military routines and stiff fitness tests were conducted in order to refine them for the tour. This is also the first time when the Pakistan team has arrived well ahead of time to England.

The team came here approximately three weeks before the start of the series and looks well-prepared after playing two practice games against Sussex and Somerset. They must have soaked in the atmosphere of the country perfectly and would have an idea of what kinds of things to expect from their opposition in coming days. With a mix of experienced heads and youngsters, the team will have to shoulder the burden of doing well here.

1. Mohammad Hafeez:

One part of the experienced trio who will shoulder the bating responsibility – Mohammad Hafeez – will biggest job would be to see off the new ball. Hafeez had a good outing the last time both teams played each other in UAE. The opener ended up a sthe highest run-getter for Pakistan with 380 runs at 63.33 in 3 Tests. The condition have changed and the challenges will be different and Pakitan will hope that he remains at his best when he faces the mighty English bowlers.

2. Shan Masood:

Shan Masood will have a huge responsibility in him when will walk out to bat at Lord’s.  The selectors have shown a lot of confidence in the 26-year-old opener who has featured in just 7 Tests for his country. He seems to be still in the learning phase and hasn’t made a name for himself yet. However, things might change and this series can prove to be the turning point of his career if he manages to perform sturdily and help his team get off to a good start.

Also read – Eng v Pak, 1st Test Preview: Pakistan aiming for a fresh start

3. Azhar Ali:

Azhar Ali will be the batsman to watch out for. Ali will have the responsibility of bringing the compactness in the Pakistan batting order which has been considered fragile by the opposition. A century in the practice would be a great morale booster for the young batsman and we can certainly expect a great show by at the Lord’s.

4. Younis Khan:

Younis Khan, the most experienced man in the entire line-up, will be the backbone of the batting line-up. Any collapse at the top and the veteran of 104 Tests will have to ready to fight off the adversity. There’s no doubt in the fact that the success of the team will be relying very much on his performances.

5. Misbah ul Haq:

Misbah ul Haq adds more stability of the batting order. The presence of Misbah ul Haq along with Younis Khan makes Pakistan’s middle order look a bit more superior than their opposition. The Mr. Reliable of the team must make sure that he’s among the runs to ensure a stiff fight in the upcoming Test.

6. Sarfraz Ahmed:

Sarfraz Ahmed grit and determination will be tested here. The wicket-keeper batsman could not make any substantial contribution in the practice games against Somerset and Sussex, scoring just 17*, 0 and 21*. He will definitely look forward to making an impact with the bat.

Also read – SWOT Analysis of Pakistan’s fast bowling attack for the tour of England

7. Asad Shafiq:

Asad Shafiq has been reasonably consistent over the years as a Test cricketer. The middle order batsman has from time to time shown his capability of hitting worthy knocks and has therefore been a preferred member in the team. With 41 Tests under his belt and centuries against South Africa and Sri Lanka in their own backyard, Shafiq has the experience to do well in the English conditions.

8. Yasir Shah:

Leg spinner Yasir Shah would want to make this tour a memorable one. Shah, who is returning to the squads after the doping controversy, will be one of those players whom the English team will be highly wary of. England has traditionally fallen to the leg spin trap and a bowler of his calibre would surely want to take advantage of the mental weakness the hosts possess against his bowling style.

9. Sohail Khan:

Sohail Khan, the right arm fast bowler, last played a Test for Pakistan way back in the year 2011. Sohail will play the supporting cast to the two lead bowler in the side. So far, he has had a satisfying time in England, picking 3/26 and 1/66 in the first warm-up game against Somerset. The 32-year-old also provides a bit of batting depth to the squad.

10. Mohammad Amir:

For Mohammad Amir, this tour will be a test of fire. Six years ago, the then 17 years old rising left arm fast bowler, who was rated above Wasim Akram in terms of potential, was sent to jail and subsequently banned for five years after been found guilty of spot-fixing charges. This would his shot at redemption. The zing in his bowling is still the same and this tour will provide the opportunity to him to wash all the bad memories. A stellar performance at Lord’s, the same venue where his career was brought to a dangerous halt, will help him somewhat regain the lost faith among the English crowd.

Also read – Events that happened around the Lord’s Test of 2010 and after it

11. Wahab Riaz:

At the moment, if there’s one guy who can take full advantage of the reverse-swing, then it is Wahab Riaz. In a sense, the mercurial left armer will be more required with the old ball than the new ball, given his capability to reverse the ball. He had a reasonable outing against the same opposition. In favourable conditions Riaz looks menacing and therefore, it is anticipated that he will put in some inspiring show and lead the way for Pakistan as the senior-most bowler in the line-up. Also, left-arm seam is obviously not something England faced against Sri Lanka and it will play a big role in this series.