LAHORE: Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Huraira have been recalled to Pakistan’s Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against the West Indies due to injury to fellow opener Saim Ayub and poor form of Abdullah Shafique .
The 15-member squad, announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday, also includes two uncapped players – pacer Kashif Ali and batsman Rohail Nazir.
Experienced fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi was also left out of the Test calculation after missing the previous series against South Africa.
The 29-year-old Imam’s last Test outing was against Australia in the second of Pakistan’s three-match series in Australia in December 2023. He was dropped for his defensive batting approach as captain Shan Masood looked to influence a change of mentality within Pakistan. dressing room
But Imam will have another chance to solidify what used to be a permanent place in the team, thanks to the ankle injury to Saim, who had become his replacement, which the left-hander suffered in the recent series against South Africa.
Imam and Saim’s opening partner Abdullah has also been sidelined, possibly for a long period, after the right-hander failed to make an impact at the top of the order in Pakistan’s current World Test Championship cycle, which ends with the West Indies series.
Kashif and Rohail have been awarded for their impressive performances in the domestic circuit over the last few years. Right-arm spinner Kashif took seven wickets in two matches of the recently concluded Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. He also impressed with figures of 5-31 and 2-79 in the first of two four-day matches against Sri Lanka ‘A’ in November.
Meanwhile, Rohail has been a regular feature in domestic cricket since the last few years, making him one of the most experienced wicketkeepers in Pakistan’s talent pool. And with fellow gloveman Haseebullah Khan, who was also part of the team against South Africa, injured, Rohail is expected to be the second-choice wicketkeeper after prop Mohammad Rizwan for the West Indies Tests.
Pakistan have kept their squad action-packed with the return of Sajid Khan, who was not preferred for the tour of South Africa, following his series-winning spectacle against England in October.
In the series, which Pakistan won 2-1, left-arm spinner Noman Ali was Sajid’s accomplice (taking 39 wickets together) and is expected to play the same role against the West Indies and retain his place. .
The indirect attack is further bolstered by the return of so-called ‘mystery’ spinner Abrar Ali, who last appeared for Test whites in Pakistan’s 2-0 whitewashing of Bangladesh at home in September last year.
Pakistan will host the visitors for the first time in 19 years, with both Tests taking place in Multan, starting from January 17 and 25.
Shan remains skipper despite Pakistan losing both Tests in South Africa last week.
Apart from Shan, Saud Shakeel, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali and Salman Ali Agha retained their places in the South Africa series.
Squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha.
Published in Amanecer, January 12, 2025.
