Pakistan is all set to host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series. After the T20 World Cup 2024, it will be the first assignment of the men in green.
For the series, Pakistan has announced a 17-men squad. The series will begin from 21st August and the Test matches will be played across two venues: Rawalpindi and Karachi. The series will be the part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship.
It will be the first Test series since their loss against Australia earlier this year. Saud Shakeel is Pakistan’s new vice-captain as Shaheen Shah Afridi no longer will serve this role. This is a strategic decision by the board to manage the workload of the ace pacer for the upcoming commitments.
Naseem Shah has made a comeback to the side after a year or so. Mohammad Ali has been recalled for the series. Ali took 24 wickets in six First-Class matches in the 2022-23 season and combined it with 47 wickets in 14 FC matches across the 2023-24 season. And in recently concluded four day matches against Bangladesh A, Ali took nine wickets.
Kamran Ghulam has also made a comeback to the side as he scored 1,025 runs in FC during 2023-24 season. He was on song for Pakistan Shaheens too as he racked up 148 runs against Bangladesh A in the last month, including an unbeaten knock of 100 in the first Test match.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Huraira is a newcomer to the team as he has earned his place on the back of strong performances in the domestic circuit.
During the 2022-23 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Huraira was the only player to score more than 1,000 runs as he accumulated 1,024 runs for Northern. In the 2023-24 FC season, the rising star scored 961 runs in 14 matches for Faisalabad region. And recently against Bangladesh A, he smashed a double century.
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.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Nawaz, Imam-ul-Haq, Hassan Ali (injured), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (injured), Faheem Ashraf, Noman Ali, and Sajid Khan are the players who failed to retain their place in the Test squad.
Bangladesh A will also play a game against Pakistan Shaheens, and for this the PCB has announced a separated squad.
It will be Jason Gillespie’s first assignment with the team.
Series Schedule for Pakistan Shaheen and Bangladesh A:
10 Aug – Arrival in Islamabad
11 & 12 Aug – Training and practice at 10:00
13-16 Aug – 1st four-day match vs Pakistan Shaheens
18 & 19 Aug – Training and practice at 10:00
20-23 Aug – 2nd four-day match vs Pakistan Shaheens
25 Aug – Training & practice at 10:00
26 Aug – 1st 50-over match vs Pakistan Shaheens
27 Aug – Training and practice at 10:00
28 Aug – 2nd 50-over match vs Pakistan Shaheens
29 Aug – Training and practice at 10:00
30 Aug – 3rd 50-over match vs Pakistan Shaheens
Series Schedule for Pakistan and Bangladesh Test
21st Aug-25th Aug – First Test match
30th Aug-3rd Sep – Second Test match
Squads:
Pakistan Test squad for Bangladesh series
Shan Masood (capt), Saud Shakeel (vice-capt), Aamer Jamal (subject to fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi
Pakistan Shaheen squad for the first game against Bangladesh A
Saud Shakeel (capt), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rameez Jnr, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saad Baig (wk), Saad Khan, Saim Ayub, Sameen Gul, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Umar Amin
