Pakistan announces Test squad for the New Zealand tour

Inzamam Ul Haq led selection committee has announced a 16-man squad for Pakistan’s 2-match Test series in New Zealand. Pakistan has maintained their core squad which has played the majority of their Test matches off late with some minor changes and a few additions to their current Test squad playing against West Indies in UAE.

Skipper Misbah Ul Haq and Younus Khan will again be the lynchpins of Pakistani batting and Asad Shafiq along with their ODI skipper Azhar Ali will look to solidify their career further after cementing their place as prospering young batting talents with their recent exploits. Sami Aslam has been promising in his little career so far and will travel to New Zealand as the first choice opener. Sharjeel Khan has earned his maiden Test call-up and will start the innings with Sami Aslam in the first Test if Azhar Ali returns to his conventional no. 3 position against Blackcaps.

The squad consists of 7 specialist batsmen with Babar Azam filling the last spot. Despite making his Test debut in the first game of the test series against West Indies, Babar has made it tough for the selectors to drop him with his strong ODI performances in the ODIs against West Indies. Mohammad Rizwan has also been added to the squad as a cover for the first choice wicket-keeper/batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed.

The bowling attack looks similar to the one in the ongoing Test series against West Indies. Mohammad Amir will be looking to exploit the seaming conditions in the cold climate of New Zealand with Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan and Imran Khan Jr. as the other options for seam bowlers. Among the 3 spinners currently bowling in UAE, Zulfiqar Babar has been omitted from the squad after an ineffective bowling performance against the Caribbeans.

Squad: Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Sharjeel Khan, Asad Shafiq, Younus Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq(c), Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Nawaz, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan.

Also read – Stats: Mohammad Amir claims top spot for most Tests to take a catch

Pakistan last toured New Zealand in 2010-11 where they defeated the Kiwis 1-0 in a 2-match Test series. Among their current squad, only 6 out of the 16 players (Misbah Ul Haq, Younus Khan, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz) have some experience of playing Test cricket in New Zealand. It will be a challenge for them but Pakistan would be in good spirits after an impressive performance in Test cricket recently and a display in England where they drew the 4-match Test series 2-2.

The first Test of the Test series will start from 17th November in Christchurch and will be followed by the second Test from 25th November which will take place in Hamilton