Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the squad for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh in May. The series will be part of the World Test Championship (WTC). The first Test will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka from 8 to 12 May, while Sylhet International Cricket Stadium will host the second Test from 16 to 20 May. Pakistan are fifth on the WTC table after a win and a defeat, while Bangladesh are eighth with a defeat and a draw. A series win for either of the teams will make them jump places in the points table.
Meanwhile, PCB has named four debutants for the Bangladesh series – Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori. Shan Masood will continue to lead the side despite the team’s below-par showings in recent times. The squad also included regulars like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Salman Agha, among others. Among the squad, five players, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, are currently taking part in the ongoing NCA Red-Ball Camp in Lahore.
The squad will get together on April 27 and undergo a camp in Karachi. Players who are part of the PSL will join the team after the conclusion of the PSL.
PCB Name New Head Coach
Meanwhile, PCB also named former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed as red-ball coach of the Pakistan cricket team. Sarfaraz, who won the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, guided Pakistan U19 to the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup title as a mentor earlier this year. Meanwhile, former batsman Asad Shafique and veteran Umar Gul were named the batting and bowling coaches of the Pakistan cricket team.
Pakistan Squad
Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
