Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has returned to the Green Shirts’ Test squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka next month, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Saturday.
The men’s national selection committee has also included uncapped batsman Mohammad Hurira and all-rounder Amir Jamal in the 16-member squad for Pakistan’s first assignment in the third round of the ICC World Test Championship.
The squad has been designed keeping in mind the conditions that the team will face in Sri Lanka, with four spinners, four fast bowlers, six specialist batsmen and two keeper batsmen in the squad, the board said in a statement. are
The last Test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was played in July 2022 which was a 1-1 draw.
Pakistan will gather in Karachi on July 3 for a camp before leaving for Sri Lanka on July 9.
Pakistan squad
Babar Azam (c), Muhammad Rizwan (vc & wk), Amir Jamal, Abdullah Shafiq, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imamul Haq, Muhammad Hurira, Muhammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Nouman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk) , Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi and Shan Masood
Shaheen is one wicket away from reaching a century of Test wickets and no Pakistani bowler has taken more wickets since the left-hander made his debut on December 3, 2018. The 23-year-old Shaheen averages 24.86 and has an economy of 3.04.
🚨 16-strong squad for our first assignment of the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship 💪
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 17, 2023
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Expressing his happiness at his return to the Test team, Shaheen said: “I am very excited to be back in the Pakistan Test team after a year. I missed Test cricket a lot and it was difficult for me to stay away from this format.
After missing the entire home season in Sri Lanka due to injury, I am eager to make an effective return to the country and complete a century of wickets in Test cricket. I want to thank my fans who have supported me through the tough times and I am ready for the challenges ahead.
Harira has played 24 first-class, 10 List A and six T20Is and has earned this spot after an impressive run.
He was the highest run-scorer in the last two Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. In the 2022-23 edition, the 21-year-old, who hails from Sialkot, was the only batsman to cross the 1,000-run mark, helping Northerns to their maiden first-class title.
In 11 matches, Harira scored 1,024 runs at an average of 73.14 with four centuries and two fifties.
He continued his first-class form on the tour of Zimbabwe last month, scoring 178 and 64 against Zimbabwe A in Kwekwe and Mutare.
He holds the record of being the second youngest batsman to score a first-class triple century in Pakistan behind the legendary Javed Miandad.
Harira achieved the feat in the 2021-22 season by scoring 311 for 343 in Northern’s impressive innings and 170-run win over Balochistan at the State Bank Ground, Karachi.
Harira will be joined by his Northern and Shaheens teammate Amir.
The 27-year-old from Mianwali topped the wicket-taking charts for fast bowlers in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2022-23, taking 31 scalps at an average of 29.71 and taking two five-wicket hauls.
He was the highest wicket-taker in the recent six-match ODI series between Zimbabwe Select and Pakistan Shaheens with 16 outs at an average of 21.
However, the highlight of Amir’s career was his last-over 15-run defense against England’s Moeen Ali on his Pakistan debut in September last year. Amir’s unparalleled death bowling led Pakistan to a thrilling six-run victory over England in the fifth T20I of the seven-match series. Amir has two T2oI, 23 First Class, 23 List A and 20 T20 experience.
‘Missed out’ players should not get ‘bogged down’
Reflecting on the squad, National Men’s Chief Selector, Haroon Rasheed said: “I would like to congratulate all the players selected in the squad, especially Mohammad Hurira and Aamir Jamal who have put in impressive performances over the period. advanced his case through time
“We have prepared this squad with the conditions and challenges that our players will face in Sri Lanka. This is our first series of the third round of the ICC World Test Championship and this squad will give us a solid start. Has full capacity to provide.
“Conditions in Sri Lanka are largely in favor of finger-spinners – something we’ve seen over the years and during Pakistan’s last tour of the island – so we have three such bowlers to go with the enigmatic spin of Abrar Ahmed. are.”
“Players who have missed out on selection should not worry as they remain firmly part of our plans. We have an exciting and challenging season ahead of us and should make the most of the opportunities in domestic cricket and the Shaheens tour.” . To prepare myself.”
New bowling coach
Meanwhile, PCB has also announced the appointment of Morne Morkel as the bowling coach of the national team.
The former South African fast bowler has joined the national team on a six-month contract. During his 11-year-long international career, Morkel took 309 wickets in 86 Tests, 188 wickets in 117 ODIs and 47 wickets in 44 T20Is.
His last international match was against Pakistan in September 2017 for the World XI in Lahore.
