Image Credit- PCB
Following their inclusion in Pakistan’s team for their
forthcoming tour of Australia, fast bowler Khurram Shahzad and opening batsman
Saim Ayub are expected to make their Test debuts.
During the tour, Pakistan will play three Test matches
in Perth (December 14–18), Melbourne (December 26–30), and Sydney (January
3-7), all of which will be captained by newly appointed red-ball captain Shan
Masood.
The 21-year-old Ayub, who has already participated in
eight Twenty20 Internationals for Pakistan, joins the Test team with 1069
first-class runs at an average of 46.47. In October, he scored 203 and 109 in
the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final. Shahzad has also been selected in good form,
having finished the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023–24 with 36 wickets at an average
of 20.30.
Left-arm rapid Mir Hamza has been called up after he
took the second-most wickets in the competition (32 at 20.87). In January, he
played his final Test match against New Zealand. Seam-bowling all-rounder
Faheem Ashraf, whose last 16 Test matches were played in December 2022, is also
back in the lineup.
In addition to Naseem Shah, who is still recuperating
from the shoulder injury that prevented him from playing in the World Cup in
India, Haris Rauf, who has withdrawn from consideration for selection, will
also be absent from Pakistan’s pace assault. Wahab Riaz, the recently appointed
chief selector, expressed his dissatisfaction with the selection announcement,
saying, “I feel Pakistan cricket will suffer because Haris pulled out at
the last minute.”
The team had both Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mohammad Rizwan
as wicketkeepers, with Sarfaraz being considered the starter. He took Rizwan’s
spot in the Test team last year and has continued to do so for the last four
Tests in two different series.
With Noman Ali selected as his backup, Abrar Ahmed’s
selection solidifies his status as Pakistan’s top red-ball spinner. Pakistan
has closely monitored its spin options in all formats, since legspinners Shadab
Khan and Usama Mir have shown underwhelming results throughout the World Cup.
Abrar participated in the World Cup as a reserve, however he was not selected
for the starting team.
Pakistan have an unenviable record in Australia,
having lost their last 14 Test matches on the bounce there.