LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board men’s national selection committee on Wednesday announced a 17-member squad for the ICC World Test Championship fixtures against Bangladesh.
The first Test will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from August 21-25, while the second Test will be held from August 30-September 3 in Karachi.
The Pakistan Test side’s training camp will commence at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on August 11 and will be supervised by red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, a PCB press release said.
The Bangladesh cricket team is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad in the wee hours of August 17 and expected to train in the same afternoon.
The 17-member Test squad will be led by Shan Masood while left-handed middle-order batter Saud Shakeel has been appointed as vice-captain.
Saud takes over from Shaheen Shah Afridi as part of the selectors’ strategic decision that is aimed at managing Pakistan’s lead fast bowler’s workload management during the period from August 21, 2024 to April 5, 2025 in which Pakistan is scheduled to play nine Tests, 14 T20Is and, at least 17 ODIs.
Of the 17 players picked for the first Test series of the 2024-25 season, 13 players were involved in Pakistan’s last series against Australia in December/January 2023-24.
Mohammad Huraira, Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali have been rewarded for their consistent performances in the domestic circuit as well as for Pakistan Shaheens, while Naseem Shah is returning to the red-ball side after 13 months.
Imamul Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali (injured), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr (injured), Noman Ali and Sajid Khan were the players who failed to retain their places in the Test side.
Meanwhile, the selectors also named the Pakistan Shaheens squad for the first four-day match against Bangladesh A. The dates for the match are yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel will captain Pakistan Shaheens in the first match against Bangladesh ‘A’.
The squad will also include Test team members Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub and Sarfaraz Ahmed.
For the four-day match, Pakistan Shaheens commenced their training session on Wednesday at the Islamabad Club under head coach Umar Gul. Jason Gillespie and Azhar Mahmood will assist Umar Gul before shifting their attention to the national side’s camp on August 11.
Following the four-day match, the eight Test probables will join the national side and the selectors will announce their replacements in the Pakistan Shaheens squad for the remaining matches against Bangladesh ‘A’.
The Bangladesh ‘A’ team will arrive in Islamabad on August 10, for two four-day and three 50-over matches against Pakistan Shaheens. The matches will be played at the Islamabad Club.
Pakistan squad of Bangladesh Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal (subject to fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Pakistan Shaheens squad: Saud Shakeel (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rameez Jnr, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Saad Khan, Saim Ayub, Sameen Gul, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper) and Umar Amin.
Revised series schedule (Bangladesh A tour to Pakistan):
Aug 10 – Arrival in Islamabad
Aug 13-16 – 1st four-day match vs Pakistan Shaheens
Aug 20-23 – 2nd four-day match vs Pakistan Shaheens
Aug 26 – 1st 50-over match vs Pakistan Shaheens
Aug 28 – 2nd 50-over match vs Pakistan Shaheens
Aug 30 – 3rd 50-over match vs Pakistan Shaheens
