Uncapped Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam included as Pakistan announce squad for Bangladesh Test series

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday (November 15) announced a 20-man squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh. Pakistan are set to tour Bangladesh for three T20Is and a couple of Test matches, starting from November 19. Having enjoyed an impressive campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021, the Babar Azam-led side would be high on confidence.

However, Test cricket is a different ball game and Bangladesh would like to thrive in their own backyard. Speaking of Pakistan’s squad, uncapped players like Abdullah Shafique and Kamran Ghulam have been awarded for their stellar performances in the domestic circuit. Interestingly, several key players, who featured in the T20 World Cup 2021, were expected to be given a rest.

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi have been in stellar form

However, nothing as such happened as all the Test regulars will be in action. The likes of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been in sensational form and would like to shine against the Bangla Tigers as well. At the same time, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, and Hasan Ali will have the onus to breathe fire with the red ball.

With the game taking place in the spin-friendly tracks of Bangladesh, the spinners would play a massive part. Hence, the likes of Nauman Ali and Mohammad Nawaz will also have a crucial role to play.  Notably, Hasan Ali has been exceptional in the longest format of the game this year. Hence, he would like to bounce back despite enduring a horrendous campaign in the recently-concluded global event.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s last assignment in the longest format was a two-match series in West Indies in August. That series ended in a 1-1 draw and Pakistan would like to put up a better show this time around. As far as Bangladesh are concerned, they recorded a 220-run win over Zimbabwe in their last Test appearance which was recorded in July this year.

Pakistan’s squad for Bangladesh Test series: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Bilal Asif, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zahid Mahmood, Sajid Khan.