Shan Masood will not be joining the side for the upcoming two-match red-ball series against Sri Lanka, set to begin November 9. Masood is understood to have picked up a left calf strain during the ongoing President’s Trophy, where he featured for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL). The injury also saw him miss the final round of the competition. The PCB, however, did not cite the reason behind Masood’s absence from the squad, leaving the debate open about his form.
Having been sacked as the side’s Test captain earlier this year, Masood has had a middling form during the West Indies and England tours. Besides scoring a century in Tarouba and a 95 against England in the final Test, he has struggled to get past even 30 runs in the remaining innings.
Abdullah Shafique, Rizwan and Imam miss out
Besides Masood, Pakistan have also left out Abdullah Shafique, who returned to the side for the West Indies tour. While Abdullah had a decent run against West Indies, he averaged just 14 against England across six innings.
Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq, both of whom were sent back home along with five other players midway through the England tour, have not been given a spot as well. Rizwan and Imam spent much of their time since returning home embroiled in the investigation launched by Pakistan’s cybercrime agency.
Salman Ali Agha and Ali Usman return to the squad
Among the players who were released from the England squad, Salman Ali Agha and Ali Usman have found a way back to the team. Salman scored a triple ton during the President’s Trophy and followed it up with a century against Sri Lanka in the ODI Tri-series. Besides him, Arafat Minhas, who bagged his second five-for in just five ODIs, has also been called up for the Test series.
Minhas will be accompanied by his younger brother Sameer Minhas, who has yet to make his international debut. Despite that, Sameer is an exciting talent, scoring three YODI hundreds, including a match-winning 172 against India in the U-19 Asia Cup final last year.
Three players receive maiden Test call-ups
Among the other first-timers are Mohammad Suleman and Mohammad Taha. Taha is currently the leading run-getter in the President’s Trophy, while Suleman follows closely in fifth spot.
Pakistan have left two spots open for pacers, whom they will name following the conclusion of the three-day tour game against Sri Lanka from November 4 to 6 in Islamabad.
Partial Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka Tests
Babar Azam (capt), Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Sameer Minhas, Saud Shakeel.
ALSO READ:
President’s Trophy helped Rauf prepare for long-format cricket- IPL