Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday named a playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh to be led by Shan Masood as captain. The match is set to take place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on August 21.
PCB announces Pakistan’s 1st Test XI against Bangladesh
The batting list is to be supported by such players as Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafique, and the prolific Babar Azam alongside Masood. In the fast bowling battery, there will be Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Naseem Shah, and developing talent Khurram Shahzad.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan and the only spinner in the squad, all-rounder Salman Agha, have further consolidated the team. It is the first Test that Jason Gillespie will be appearing in as the head coach for the Pakistan cricket team.
Aamer Jamal, who has been troubled with fitness issues because of a back injury, was released from the squad much earlier. The 28-year-old was injured while playing for Warwickshire in county cricket earlier this year. He joined the Pakistan team in April and has thus far featured in three Tests and six T20Is.
His fitness, though, was back in question when he aggravated the same back problem on June 8 while playing for a county side. Pushed into a strong chance of appearing for the Bangladesh series, Jamal could not attain absolute fitness and had to be further released to continue rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, PCB said.
Pakistan’s Playing XI for first Bangladesh Test
Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad
Series schedule
1st Test: August 21 – 25 @ Pindi Cricket Stadium
2nd Test: August 30 – 4 September @ Pindi Cricket Stadium
