Pakistan squad for England Tests
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the squad for three-match test series against England, which is schedule to start on December 1. Let us look at the Pakistan squad for England Tests in detail.
Speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi was left off the squad because he was “unavailable for selection after undergoing appendix surgery on Sunday. Which would require three to four weeks’ rest before he can continue his two-week rehabilitation on his right knee.”
The speed gun, Haris Rauf, who impressed everyone with his pace bowling in recent times in T20Is and ODIs added to the 18-member squad.
Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed and fast bowler Mohammad Ali have received their first Test calls-ups as a result of their outstanding first-class performances.
Sarfaraz Ahmed is back in Pakistan’s team
Former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, who played his last test match in 2019. Has been recalled for the big series against England.
The other two players who have returned to the team are Mohammad Wasim Jr. and Zahid Mehmood. Who were both a part of the Test squad for the three Tests against Australia earlier this year.
The team has undergone four changes since Pakistan’s most recent Test match. Which played in Sri Lanka and resulted in a 1-1 tie in the two-match series. Hasan Ali, Fawad Alam, Yasir Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are the four players who aren’t on the team.
“Fawad managed 33 runs in four innings of three Tests against Australia earlier this year, while he scored 25 runs in his only Test in Sri Lanka. Hasan Ali took five wickets in his last four Tests against Australia and Sri Lanka. While Yasir Shah bagged nine wickets in Sri Lanka but has managed only 14 wickets in seven Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches to date,” stated an official media release.
PAK Vs ENG Test series: ICC Test Championship
The three Tests are part of the ICC World Test Championship which will take place in Rawalpindi (1-5 December), Multan (9-13 December) and Karachi (17-21 December).
Each of the nine teams play six series – three at home and three away – in 2021-23 cycle. The upcoming series is Pakistan’s fifth – their last series will be the two Tests against New Zealand in December 2022 and January 2023. These three Tests will be England’s final appearance in the second edition of the World Test Championship.
Pakistan’s next series will be their last series in the 2021-23 cycle where each of the nine teams have to play series. Their final series will be two Test matches against New Zealand in December 2022 and January 2023. English participation in the second World Test Championship will end with these three Test matches.
Shaheen is facing quite a tough time in his cricketing career due to injuries. He previously missed the Asia Cup 2022. Which Pakistan failed to win even after reaching the finals. He was not part of England’s ODIs series at home, which Pakistan lost by 4-3. While he took part in T20 World Cup. But a sudden injury while capturing the ball in the final game against England once again kept him out form the game.
Pakistan squad for England Tests:
Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Zahid Mehmood
