Pakistan Cricket Team comes close to the one more huge below after the T20I series defeat. The opener Imam ul Haq and the skipper Babar Azam are ruled out of the first PakvsNZ Test match. The Men in Green are already coming from straight blows losing two consecutive T20I matches and hence, the series.
The dismissing duo is yet to get recovered from their respective thumb injuries. However, Mohammad Rizwan is to lead the side at least in the first test. Rizwan was named as the vice-skipper for Test matches recently.
Meanwhile, the 24-year-old uncapped Imran Butt has been added to the Test squad comprising seventeen members. Notably, Faheem Ashraf, who was out for two years, will be marking his comeback after being selected in the squad. Haris Sohail’s inclusion is however good news.
Notably, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, and Yasir Shah have retained their places in the team.
Babar neither is a participant in the PakvsNZ T20I series. He fractured his thumb during training sessions last week in Queenstown. In his absence, Shadab Khan, who has recovered from a groin injury, is leading the squad.
Mohammad Rizwan to captain the first test as Babar Azam misses out
“Although it will be nearly two weeks to Babar’s injury when the first Test starts, it will be hard on him and the team to play him without any net sessions,” head coach Misbah said in a statement on Monday.
“I remain confident and optimistic that other players will rise to the occasion in Mount Maunganui and use the opportunity to rise to the occasion and put the disappointment of the T20I series behind them.”
Here is the Squad:
Pakistan squad for first Test:
Mohammad Rizwan (capt), Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, Yasir Shah.
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